Utah Hospital 1st in the State to Treat Early Stage Breast Cancer with Cryoablation
OGDEN, Utah (PRWEB) March 21, 2018 -- Sanarus Technologies, developers of the Visica® 2 Treatment System, is currently sponsoring the FROST Clinical Study at Ogden Regional Medical Center. The multicenter clinical trial examines the use of cryoablation as an alternative to surgical procedures for treating primary early stage invasive breast cancer. Ogden Regional is the only hospital in Utah and among 14 centers across the county participating in this study.
Cryoablation–also referred to as tumor freezing–uses extreme cold (cryo) to destroy diseased tissue (ablation). During the procedure, a hollow-tipped probe is placed into the tumor under ultrasound guidance. Liquid nitrogen is pumped into the probe to “spot-freeze” the lesion. The extreme cold destroys the cancer cells, which are then expelled by the body over time. The procedure generally takes about 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia in the hospital’s radiology suite.
Early in 2016, Jose Perez-Tamayo, M.D. was the first diagnostic radiologist in Utah to use the Visica® 2 Treatment System at Ogden Regional Medical Center as a minimally invasive alternative to lumpectomy. After achieving good clinical outcomes in the treatment of benign breast lumps, Dr. Tamayo began offering the groundbreaking nonsurgical procedure to patients with early stage breast cancer. He is now the primary investigator for the FROST Study at Ogden Regional Medical Center.
“Cryoablation is a viable treatment option for many women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer,” said Perez-Tamayo. “It’s an effective alternative to surgery that involves minimal downtime and preserves the natural shape of the breast. By offering patients a virtually painless outpatient procedure, we may help relieve some of the stress related to a breast cancer diagnosis.”
Breast cryoablation has already been shown to be a safe and effective minimally invasive alternative to lumpectomy in earlier studies. The current clinical study is a follow-up to the landmark National Cancer Institute-sponsored study “ACOSOG (Alliance) Z1072” trial which showed 100 percent ablation success in all breast tumors less than 1.0 cm and was effective in 92 percent of all targeted tumors. The Visica 2 Treatment System was the exclusive device used in the Z1072 study.
“Physicians have utilized cryoablation for decades to treat several types of cancer, most commonly kidney, liver, lung and prostate,” said Perez-Tamayo. “Cryoablation is the next step evolution for the treatment of early stage breast cancer.”
Ogden Regional Medical Center offers comprehensive healthcare for every stage of a woman’s life. With Dr. Perez-Tamayo at the lead, the hospital elected to participate in the FROST Clinical Study, “Freezing Alone Instead of Resection of Small Breast Tumors: A Study of Cryoablation in the Management of Early Stage Breast Cancer.”
FROST investigators are actively recruiting 200 female patients, 50+ years of age, at 20 locations nationwide. The study will track the breast tumor recurrence rates, assess breast cosmesis post-treatment, record adverse events and provide 5-year follow-up. To date, 14 centers are actively recruiting patients with the remaining sites identified. Patient eligibility requirements include unifocal primary invasive breast cancer diagnosed by core needle biopsy; maximum tumor size less than or equal to 1.5 cm. Cryoablation will be done with the Visica 2 Treatment System.
To find out how to enroll in the FROST Clinical Study at Ogden Regional Medical Center, contact Joshua Kunz, MBA, and clinical research coordinator, at 801-479-2067. For more information about the study or breast cryoablation, call Sanarus Technologies at 800-909-3060 or send an email to [email protected].
About Sanarus Technologies
The Visica® 2 Treatment System was first available for cryoablation of fibroadenoma. Since then, our system has been used to successfully treat thousands of patients. The Visica 2 Treatment System is FDA-cleared for the ablation of cancerous or malignant tissue and benign tumors. At Sanarus, we develop innovative solutions for the nonsurgical treatment of breast tumors. We are headquartered in Pleasanton, CA, and all our products are manufactured in the USA. Find out more about cryoablation at sanarus.com.
About Ogden Regional Medical Center
Originally founded in 1946, this modern, 232-bed hospital delivers high-quality healthcare with expertise gained over nearly 70 years of serving patients and their families. Designated as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care by the BlueCross BlueShield Association, its nationally recognized maternity care includes a dedicated suite for women who deliver babies via a C-section. Ogden Regional Medical Center features a Level II Trauma Center and is accredited for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, chest pain and heart failure by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. Ogden Regional Medical Center.
About Jose Perez-Tamayo, M.D.
Board-certified in diagnostic radiology by the American Board of Radiology, Dr. Perez-Tamayo specializes in image-guided procedures such as cryoablation. He graduated from University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine in 1991, and now has more than 27 years of diverse experience in interventional and diagnostic radiology.
Karen Hambly, Sanarus Technologies, Inc., http://www.sanarus.com, +1 (925) 460 6080, [email protected]
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