May 3 2008  


 

New miniature X-ray radiation delivery system will be an exciting addition to the suite of comprehensive brachytherapy solutions from Nucletron Veenendaal, Netherlands (May 2, 2008)—Nucletron, a knowledge-based leader in radiation oncology, today announced it has begun the development of a new electronic brachytherapy solution using miniature X-ray technology.


Working with a dedicated research and development team, Nucletron has made considerable progress towards the development of an electronic brachytherapy solution. Nucletron sees this innovation not as a replacement for an isotope-based brachytherapy delivery system, but as an innovative, powerful addition to an integrated and comprehensive radiation therapy offering that includes imaging, treatment planning (external beam and brachytherapy), and isotope-based brachytherapy delivery systems.


“Nucletron has consistently set the benchmark for technological innovation in brachytherapy, and this is a logical progression that reinforces our commitment to further grow the adoption of brachytherapy while improving patient care,” said Jeroen Cammeraat, chief operating officer of Nucletron.  “We believe that we will be able to excite existing brachytherapy users by providing a new solution to enhance their current practice, and at the same time, provide a valuable and cost-effective treatment modality to radiation oncology centers new to high dose rate brachytherapy.”


Electronic brachytherapy uses miniature x-ray tubes to deliver non-radioactive and isotope-free radiation treatments directly to cancer sites.  Similar to isotope-based brachytherapy, this type of localized radiation treatment delivers the radiation source directly to the tumor site, minimizing damage to healthy surrounding organs and tissue. Nucletron expects the new solution to be first used in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers--- which are the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for over 95 percent of cases.


“We based our intent to develop a miniature x-ray radiation delivery system on a solid plan of scientific research and discovery,” said Dick van Waes, vice president of global business management for Nucletron.  “As we enter the product development and clinical validation phase of this project, we will continue to engage our research partners and customers to speed the unveiling of a prototype in the latter part of this year.”


Nucletron expects to have a prototype in place for demonstration at the 2008 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in September and to begin clinical testing during the course of 2009.


To find out more, please visit Nucletron at the 2008 World Congress of Brachytherapy in Boston, MA , May 4-6 , Booth # 120.



Media Contact:


Danielle Davis
+1 443-834-6725
ddavis@rosecomm.com