Hoag Breast Care Center Installs Xoft Electronic Brachytherapy System for IORT Program

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Xoft, the leading provider of FDA-cleared Electronic Brachytherapy Systems, announced today that Hoag Breast Care Center of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Calif., has recently installed an Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy, eBx™ System to support the launch of its Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) program as part of its progressive, comprehensive approach to breast cancer treatment. The first hospital in Orange County to offer IORT as a definitive treatment approach, Hoag also announced that it has successfully treated its first breast cancer patient using the Axxent System that delivers isotope-free therapy directly to cancer sites with minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

IORT is a technique where a concentrated dose of radiation is delivered to a cancerous tumor site during surgery after the tumor is removed.  Because the target and normal tissues can be clearly identified during surgery, IORT may increase targeting accuracy, thereby increasing dose to the target and reducing dose to critical structures. For breast IORT, definitive treatment can be delivered in less than 20 minutes rather than the seven-week course of external beam-therapy. The shorter treatment time is generally more convenient for patients and may increase patient compliance.

"We are pleased to offer patients who meet the IORT protocol an isotope-free, electronic treatment option that supports both single-dose intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and accelerated brachytherapy applications for the treatment of breast cancer," said Melvin Silverstein, M.D., medical director of Hoag Breast Care Center. "Hoag is dedicated to providing the most complete and innovative treatment options available.  Reinforced by several recent studies demonstrating the clinical benefits of IORT, we strongly believe that the Xoft Electronic Brachytherapy System gives us the ability to provide positive clinical results in the safe and patient friendly environment patients have come to know from Hoag."  

Available for treatment of early stage breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and skin cancer, the Axxent eBx System is also FDA cleared for use in the treatment of surface cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated, including IORT (intraoperative radiation therapy). As a platform technology, the Axxent System is designed to deliver non-radioactive therapy directly to cancer sites with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Utilizing a proprietary miniaturized X-ray source and robotic controller, treatment can be performed in minimally shielded therapeutic settings allowing the radiation oncologist and other medical personnel to be present during treatment delivery and minimizing patient anxiety.

"We are proud to work with Dr Silverstein and the team at Hoag Breast Care Center to offer this breakthrough treatment for breast cancer that delivers definitive therapy in a matter of minutes rather than weeks or even days," said Michael Klein, Xoft CEO and president. "We are encouraged that the clinical value of isotope-free electronic treatment for IORT and accelerated brachytherapy applications continues to be reinforced by multiple study publications, including the recent TARGIT study. We strongly believe that utilization of Electronic Brachytherapy will continue to increase not only on their ability to improve patient care but also as a result of the convenient approach to treatment."  

About Hoag Cancer Center

Hoag Cancer Center is accredited as a "Comprehensive Community Cancer Program" by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, and was designated as "Outstanding" following its most recent survey.  The Center provides a broad array of innovative cancer treatments as well as patient-centered education and support programs. As the highest volume provider of cancer care in Orange County, Hoag Cancer Center manages approximately 2,500 newly diagnosed cancer patients each year, providing the latest state-of-the-art technology and treatment options. The center participates in a variety of clinical trials, develops patient-specific biological treatments in its cell biology laboratory, and provides a wealth of complementary care programs for patients.

About Hoag Hospital

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian (www.hoaghospital.org) is a 498-bed, not-for-profit, acute care hospital located in Newport Beach, Calif. Designated as a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Hoag offers a comprehensive mix of health care services, including Centers of Excellence in cancer, heart and vascular, neurosciences, orthopedics and women's health. National Research Corporation has endorsed Hoag as Orange County's most preferred hospital for the past 14 consecutive years. And for an unprecedented 14 years, residents of Orange County have chosen Hoag as the county's best hospital in a local newspaper survey. In order to meet the growing needs of Irvine and South County residents, Hoag will open an Irvine campus in 2010. Hoag continues to offer additional services to the community through the seven Hoag Health Centers located throughout Orange County.

About Xoft

Xoft develops Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx) systems based upon miniaturized X-ray tube technology for the practice of radiation oncology in virtually any clinical setting, eliminating the need for heavily shielded environments. The Axxent® treatment platform provides a therapeutic dose of radiation directly to the region at risk with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and without the logistics and costs associated with using radioactive isotopes.  Available for treatment of early stage breast cancer, skin cancer and endometrial cancer, the Axxent System is also cleared for use in the treatment of other cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated. For information, visit www.xoftinc.com.

Axxent is a registered trademark and eBx is a trademark of Xoft, Inc.

SOURCE Xoft