Presentation at American Brachytherapy Society Conference Highlights Targeting of Surgical Site for Therapy

The BioZorb three-dimensional surgical marker improved the ability of radiation oncologists to target radiation treatment for breast cancer, according to a scientific presentation at the 2014 American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) Annual Meeting.

Noted radiation oncologist Robert Kuske, M.D. said the unique BioZorb marker better addressed the longstanding challenge of identifying the tumor bed for radiotherapy after breast conservation therapy. The device was reported to provide a better alternative to traditional methods for targeting the surgical site, such as clips, seroma formation, and anatomic landmarks.

“This novel 3D device allows for significantly more precise delivery of radiotherapy with a standardized method that provides excellent outcomes,” Dr. Kuske said.

The ABS poster discussion reported the experience of Dr. Kuske’s radiation oncology team, at Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists, along with the work of two breast surgeons – Linda Smith, M.D. of Comprehensive Breast Care, in Albuquerque, N.M, and Michael Cross, M.D. of Breast Treatment Associates, in Fayetteville, Ark.

The surgeons placed the 3D marker in a total of 20 patients who underwent breast conservation surgery. Those women subsequently received whole breast irradiation plus boost interstitial irradiation.

“The BioZorb marker is like a beacon for the radiation oncologist,” Kuske said. “It stays put and clearly marks where the surgeon has been.”

There were no complications in the group of 20 patients, and cosmetic and functional outcomes were described as “excellent.” Dr. Kuske and his physics team noted significant improvement in their ability to delineate the target volume using the 3D marker.

The ABS Annual Meeting, at which this data was presented, was held in San Diego on April 3-5, 2014.

Prior to the advent of BioZorb, there was no standardized method for marking the surgical site of tumor removal, which made post-operative radiation planning difficult. Methods typically used for radiation planning may overestimate the volume of the treatment area, and may result in excess radiation exposure to normal tissues such as the heart and lungs, causing inadvertent complications.

The marker’s unique open-spiral design incorporates six permanent titanium clips in a fixed 3D array and provides specific landmarks at the site of the excised tumor. The marker is useful for radiation treatment planning, patient positioning, and is compatible with advanced radiation treatment techniques.

The BioZorb device has been used successfully in both the U.S. and New Zealand. It is made of a bioabsorbable material commonly used in other medical devices, and allows the patient’s body to absorb the material slowly so it does not require surgical removal after treatments are completed.

BioZorb has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The device is available in a range of sizes to accommodate a variety of clinical situations.