Re: I-125 Prostate Therapy Regs.-Comparison of complications vs.Pd-103 seeds

[RADPROJECT@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/29/99 10:23:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
pmuldoon@mail.arc.nasa.gov writes:

<< Finally, as weeks go by and the cancer
 begins to shrink, the seeds are known to migrate.  As far as unwanted 
exposure
 as the seeds migrate through the bladder, this is not much different than any
 other therapy as radiopharmaceuticals pass through the body and are 
excreted. >>

While on the subject of I-125 use in Prostate cancer therapy there was a news 
item today about a 7 year study which compares the use of Pd-103 seeds vs. 
I-125seeds in cancer therapy which may be of interest to many Radsafe readers 
both from both a professional and possible personal aspect. Since prostate 
cancer is so common in males as they age, prostate cancer and its alternative 
treatments will have to be evaluated by more individuals for themselves and 
others.

Stewart Farber
Public Health Sciences
[802] 496-3356

======

New Clinical Study Reveals TheraSeed Associated With Lower Complications In 
Treatment For Prostate Cancer

  
BUFORD, Ga.--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 28, 1999--Theragenics Corporation (NYSE: <A
 HREF="aol://4785:TGX">TGX</A>) today announced that a seven-year study 
conducted at Yale University School of Medicine demonstrates that patients 
receiving the Company's TheraSeed(R) palladium-103 (Pd-103) seed implants 
experienced significantly lower incidences of side effects than patients 
implanted with I-125. 

The results of this peer-reviewed study appear in the October 29, 1999, issue 
of Radiation Oncology Investigations: Clinical and Basic Research. 

Drs. Richard E. Peschel, M.D., Ph.D. (professor of Radiation Oncology, Yale 
University School of Medicine), Zhe Chen, Ph.D., Kenneth Roberts, M.D. and 
Ravinder Nath, Ph.D. conducted the study at Yale University in which a review 
of 123 early stage T1c and T2 prostate cancer patients implanted between 1992 
and 1999 with I-125 (82 patients) or TheraSeed(R) (41 patients) reveals a 
significantly lower overall complication rate with TheraSeed(R) (0%) versus 
I-125 (13%). Most important, the grade III-IV complication (bladder, urethra, 
and rectum) rate for TheraSeed(R) was 0% versus 6% for I-125. The three-year 
actuarial probability of remaining free of long-term complications was 100% 
for Pd-103 versus 82% for I-125. The study also reported that a review of the 
literature for 992 patients implanted with I-125 (Drs. Beyer, Blasko, Hu, 
Kaye and Peschel) versus 540 patients implanted with TheraSeed(R) (Drs. 
Blasko, Peschel and Sharkey) shows a consistently higher complication rate 
for I-125 versus TheraSeed(R). 

These findings reveal that current prostate implant programs are highly 
successful and that overall severe complication rates from both I-125 and 
Pd-103 are very low when compared to other treatment modalities. A total of 
11 (9%) patients of the 123 implants performed at Yale had a documented 
long-term complication, all of whom were implanted with I-125. No patient 
with a TheraSeed(R) implant has had a long-term complication. This study also 
suggests that improvements in the outcomes with implant therapy are possible, 
including better local tumor control or a reduction in moderate long-term 
complications. 

Another significant aspect of this study indicates that the minimum tumor 
dose (MTD) for TheraSeed(R) may be increased without compromising side effect 
results. By increasing the MTD of TheraSeed(R) the cell kill rate for 
TheraSeed(R) implants will be greater than that of I-125 implants for all 
higher grade tumors and low grade tumors. 

"We already know TheraSeed(R) cures cancer. However, this first of its kind 
study clearly indicates that men implanted with TheraSeed(R) can expect fewer 
complications than with competing I-125 seeds. Less complications mean a 
better quality of life for men choosing TheraSeed(R) for their prostate 
cancer treatment," said Christine Jacobs, chairman, president and CEO of 
Theragenics Corporation. "TheraSeed(R) was put to a rigorous test and 
performed even better than we expected." 

Theragenics Corporation, based in Buford, Ga., is the manufacturer of 
TheraSeed(R) - palladium-103, a rice-sized radioactive device used in the 
treatment of localized prostate cancer with a one-time, minimally invasive 
procedure. For additional information on the Company, call Theragenics' 
Investor Relations Department at (800) 998-8479. The Company's common stock 
is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TGX. 

CONTACT:  

Theragenics Corporation                                          

Ron Warren, 1-800-998-8479 or 770/271-0233 
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