New non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) treatment Being tried in Australia Effectiveness and comfort, quality of life, cosmetic outcomes of the patient.
“Australia has the highest incidence of NMSCs in the world, so it is imperative to explore new treatment options and continue to improve patient outcomes,” said Siddhartha Baxi, a researcher in the study.
Non-melanoma cancer-Less serious form of skin cancer-Currently, it accounts for about 99% of skin cancers diagnosed each year, Cancer council It is estimated that about two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.
An international EPIC-Skin clinical study led by OncoBeta GmbH will test the company’s Rhenium-SCT, a radioactive paste that kills cancer cells when applied to the affected area by a doctor.
200 Australian patients will be treated with rhenium-SCT and will be monitored for the next two years. Testing will also be conducted through research centers in Australia, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom as part of international research.
Rhenium-SCT, single-session radiation therapy It was designed to be a painless, personalized, non-invasive radiation therapy to eliminate skin cancer.
This treatment uses a paste containing the radioactive rhenium-188 isotope to emit electrons that can penetrate human tissues up to 2-3 mm deep. The electrons kill the target cancer cells, thereby promoting immune repair.
Rhenium-188 has a half-life of only 17 hours and a short treatment period of 30 to 3 hours is possible.
Apart from assessing the efficacy of Rhenium-SCT, the EPIC-Skin study also focuses on patient-reported results such as quality of life, treatment comfort, and cosmetological results.
“Patients in this study will use OncoBeta’s Clinical Study app to provide a simple and streamlined way to record their experiences,” a statement from OncoBeta released on March 10 said.
“Rhenium-SCT offers a new way to treat NMSC,” said Gerhard Dahlhoff, Medical Director of OncoBeta.
“Rhenium-SCT can be applied directly to the affected area without damaging or damaging the surrounding tissue. This can have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with concern about function and aesthetics. . “
Jan McGrath was one of the first patients to develop rhenium SCT in Australia and was treated for basal cell carcinoma found in the ear on February 25.
“It was a very enjoyable experience,” McGrath, who had previously undergone “traumatic” surgery for other skin cancers, told AAP.
“I had to wait nearly three hours for it to do that. So I sat in a nice chair and watched TV.”
Rhenium-SCT is currently approved for use in Australia, Europe, and South Africa.
Deployed in clinics in New South Wales and Western Australia, more people will be able to participate in the exam.
AAP contributed to this report.
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Marina Chan is based in Melbourne and focuses on Australian news. Contact her at [email protected]