Understanding SIR-Spheres microspheres - Whats Being Discussed ?
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SIR-Spheres microspheres are used to treat "secondary liver cancer where the cancer originates in the bowel (colon) and then spreads to the liver". This type of cancer is called metastatic colorectal cancer. SIR-Spheres microspheres is generally not regarded as a cure, but has been shown to shrink the tumors more than chemotherapy alone.
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Primary liver cancer (or hepatocellular cancer), intrahepatic bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), are diseases that occur when the tumor originates in the liver and did not spread from another organ.
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Recommended Reading....... All About Liver Cancer
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Also See Press Release Nov 30th
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SIR-Spheres microspheres are an innovative means of treating liver cancer. In cases where it is not possible to surgically remove the liver tumors, SIR-Spheres microspheres can be used to deliver targeted, internal radiation therapy directly to the tumor.
Liver tumor being treated with SIR-Spheres
This new therapy is called Selective Internal Radiation Therapy also known as SIRT.
This technique uses millions of tiny polymer beads or microspheres which contain a radioactive element called yttrium-90. SIR-Spheres microspheres are very small, approximately 32 microns in size, and are about one-third the diameter of a strand of hair.SIRT is usually administered as an outpatient procedure by a specially trained physician known as an interventional radiologist. A small catheter is guided into the liver and the SIR-Spheres microspheres are infused through the catheter. The microspheres with the radioactive yttrium-90 are carried by the bloodstream directly to the tumors in the liver where they preferentially lodge in the small vessels feeding the tumor and deliver their dose of radiation. Unlike conventional external beam radiation, which can only be applied to limited areas of the body, SIR-Spheres microspheres selectively irradiate the tumors and therefore have the ability to deliver more potent doses of radiation directly to the cancer cells over a longer period of time.
SIR-Spheres microspheres were developed in the 1980's in Perth, Western Australia. Since then, the product and the procedure has been refined and many hundreds of patients have been treated. SIR-Spheres microspheres received PMA approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002.
SIR-Spheres microspheres were developed in the 1980's in Perth, Western Australia. Since then, the product and the procedure has been refined and many hundreds of patients have been treated. SIR-Spheres microspheres received PMA approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002.
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SIR-Spheres microspheres At Work
Radiation is an effective agent for destroying tumors and is widely used in cancer treatment. However, organs in the body are sensitive to radiation and high doses can seriously affect or injure a patient. SIR-Spheres microspheres and the SIRT technique enables specific targeting and destruction of the tumors within the liver, while sparing the normal healthy tissue. Scientists and doctors at Sirtex understood that liver tumors are hypervascular and derive most of their blood supply from the hepatic artery while healthy liver tissue is fed predominantly by the portal vein. By administering the SIR-Spheres microspheres into the hepatic artery they are carried preferentially to the tumor thereby sparing the normal liver. Once infused into the hepatic artery, SIR-Spheres microspheres travel in the bloodstream to the tumors, where they become lodged around the tumors. The dose of radiation from the SIR-Spheres microspheres in conjunction with their proximity to the tumor, destroys the tumor and preserves the healthy liver tissue. The SIRT procedure allows a more pin-pointed delivery of radiation to liver tumors than other radiotherapy techniques, making it more effective in killing the cancer.How Are They Administered?
SIR-Spheres microspheres are administered by a specially trained interventional radiologist. Your individual treatment plan will be reviewed by other specialists experienced in the treatment of liver tumors. The procedure is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under local sedation in the radiology suite. A small incision will be made in the patient's groin and a flexible catheter will be guided into the liver under x-ray vision. The catheter is moved through the hepatic artery and positioned by the interventional radiologist to allow for targeted infusion of the SIR-Spheres microspheres to the liver tumors. SIR-Spheres microspheres take about 15 minutes to be infused and the whole procedure takes about one hour from beginning to end.
After the procedure is completed you may be sent to have a special scan to check the level of radioactivity of the SIR-Spheres microspheres in your liver. You will be monitored for a few hours after the procedure and most patients are discharged within 24 hours. There are few precautions you and your family need to keep in mind the first week after treatment, with SIR-Spheres microspheres; there should be no close physical contact with others for longer than 2 hours, the patient should sleep in bed alone, there should be no contact with pregnant family members and children and pets should not sit on the patients lap. After a week the patient will be able to resume normal contact with family members.
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SIRT: Treatment Options
SIR-Spheres microspheres therapy is regarded as a regional treatment; that is, the anti-cancer effect is concentrated in the liver and there is no effect on the cancer at other sites. SIR-Spheres microspheres are used to treat secondary liver cancer where the cancer originates in the bowel (colon) and then spreads to the liver. This type of cancer is called metastatic colorectal cancer. SIR-Spheres microspheres is generally not regarded as a cure, but has been shown to shrink the tumors more than chemotherapy alone. Quality of life can improve, and life expectancy may increase. For a small number of patients, treatment with SIR-Spheres microspheres can cause marked shrinkage of the liver tumor allowing for surgical removal at a later date.
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SIRFLOX study
The SIRFLOX study is an international research study designed to evaluate a new treatment option for patients with colorectal cancer that has undergone metastatic spread to the liver. The study is designed to evaluate whether FOLFOX chemotherapy in combination with Selective Internal Radiation Therapy is more effective than chemotherapy alone. This study represents the first time that these treatments have been assessed together as part of a randomised controlled study and as a first-line therapy (i.e. in patients who have not previously received chemotherapy for their liver metastases).
The SIRFLOX study is an international research study designed to evaluate a new treatment option for patients with colorectal cancer that has undergone metastatic spread to the liver. The study is designed to evaluate whether FOLFOX chemotherapy in combination with Selective Internal Radiation Therapy is more effective than chemotherapy alone. This study represents the first time that these treatments have been assessed together as part of a randomised controlled study and as a first-line therapy (i.e. in patients who have not previously received chemotherapy for their liver metastases).
About the SIRFLOX study
The SIRFLOX study is an international research study designed to evaluate a new treatment option for patients with colorectal cancer that has undergone metastatic spread to the liver.
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About your liver
About SIR-Spheres microspheres
Treatment Comparisons
Clinical Assessment
Procedure I
Procedure II
Procedure III
Recovery I
Recovery II
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Click here (pdf, 1.168 kB) for additional information regarding the use of SIR-Spheres microspheres for the treatment of liver tumours. (Versions in German (pdf, 1.250 kB), French (pdf, 1.050 kB), Spanish (pdf, 1.260 kB))
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