PASSAIC, NJ, 27 October 2009 – The St. Mary’s Hospital Cancer Center today announced that it now offers the first wireless, implantable radiation sensor to receive clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer. St. Mary’s is the only hospital in the tri-state area to offer the technology.
“Traditional radiation therapies rely on knowing the location of the tumor, but provide no guidance on quantifying the actual dose being delivered to the tumor. DVS® provides an unprecedented level of precision to physicians and added reassurance to breast and prostate cancer,” says Dr. Robert Cole, Director of Radiation Oncology. “We are extremely pleased to provide advanced cancer therapy to our community.”
The new Dose Verification System – simply called DVS® – is an implantable dosimeter that measures the actual amount of radiation hitting the target (the tumor or area from which a tumor has been removed) allowing for ex¬tremely precise radiation therapy treatment. All other systems merely estimate the dosage of radiation based on formulas and calculations.
Deviations in doses delivered to the tumor, or radiation accidentally administered to normal tissue, can have a profound impact on long-term survival rates and quality of life for patients treated with radiation therapy. Accurate delivery of the appropriate dose of radiation is critical to tumor control and cure. Data from a long-term follow-up clinical investigation of 229 prostate cancer patients demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between dose delivered and a large benefit in cure.
DVS® is implanted during a minimally invasive procedure, usually in less than 15 minutes. Using wireless technology, it gathers and transmits data to a hand-held monitor so that radiation absorption rates can be read during each treatment, enabling doctors to verify that the patient is receiving the prescribed dose. DVS® was developed by Sicel Technologies, Inc.
“The St. Mary’s Hospital Cancer Center is committed to bringing patients innovative new technologies that have a positive effect on their health and overall well-being.”
About St Mary’s Hospital
St. Mary’s Hospital is the primary provider of quality healthcare to the Passaic and Bergen communities, as well as to areas of Essex and Hudson Counties. It is a non-profit acute care hospital offering a broad range of health care services and community outreach programs. St. Mary’s Hospital is a Center of Excellence for Cardiology, Oncology, Behavioral Health, and Maternal-Child Health Services. The Hospital has 292 licensed beds, over 550 physicians and is the largest employer in Passaic. St. Mary’s Hospital is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ.
About Sicel Technologies
Founded in 1999, and headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, Sicel Technologies, Inc., is a privately held, specialty device company focused on the development of revolutionary therapies that significantly impact the treatment of cancer – a leading cause of death in the U.S., second only to heart disease.
Sicel Technologies, Inc., developed the Dose Verification System®, the first U.S. Food & Drug Administration-approved wireless implantable sensors designed to assist clinicians in determining the actual dose of radiation being delivered to the tumor. The company also makes and markets OneDose™, patient dosimetry verification systems specifically designed for radiation oncology therapy.