Very Low-Dose Radiation with Radio-sensitizing Agent

Very low-dose radiation in combination with radio-sensitizing agent (chemo agents that selectively enhance tumor cell death during concurrent radiation yet exhibiting no toxicity on normal tissues).

Targeted low-dose radiation is often used by ICCA physicians to treat liver metastases in many pancreatic patients -- with even more favorable results when a chemo-based radiation sensitizing agent is used contemporaneously.

This treatment is most often used for patients with a small number of lesions near central blood vessels in the liver. It can also be used for patients who are not candidates for or who have failed surgery or interventional radiology procedures. Image guidance is needed to accurately define and deliver radiation on daily basis (generally no more than 10 sessions total). This approach requires a special technique called gaiting where radiation is only delivered during certain parts of the respiratory cycle due to continued patient breathing.

CoNexus Cancer Care tumor-targeted immunotherapy is comprised of FDA approved compounds and substances (e.g., cytokines, haptens, etc.) that are combined, and interjected directly into the tumor tissues, eliciting an enhanced autoimmune cell response which servers to better identify evasive cancer cells and help destroy, hamper or even reverse progressive tumor growth.

Small volumes of systemic chemotherapy can be given concurrent with low-dose radiation, and; in certain follow-up circumstances – as a follow-up to confirm all microscopic cancer cells have been destroyed.

Select targeting agents are also available to destroy a specific growth factor or receptor lying within the tumor cells. These agents are usually given in combination with chemotherapy to help stop cancer cells from growing or spreading.

Angiogenesis inhibitors, which block formation of new blood vessels, have been approved for use against pancreatic cancer spread to other parts of the body.

Vascular, interventional radiology and surgical procedures Stage III/IV metastatic colon patients several additional treatment options.

With minimally invasive ablations can be done through open or laparoscopic approaches, or they can be performed percutaneously (through the skin). They can also be done in an effort to shrink tumors before surgery or in combination with other surgical therapies.

While every patient does not need every treatment option mentioned, having them available under "one roof" gives ICCA physicians the ability to customized each patient's treatment based on that patient’s individual needs.

•  Radiofrequency Ablation - a procedure that uses heat to destroy a tumor. A needle electrode is placed in the tumor under the guidance of imaging such as ultrasound or computed tomography (CT). A radiofrequency current is passed through the electrode to heat the tumor tissue near the needle tip and ablate or destroy it.
•  Microwave Ablation - a procedure similar to radiofrequency ablation, except that the energy deposited has the ability to reach higher temperatures. This procedure is still being studied but it can be used in more challenging cases where bigger ablation zones are needed.
•  Cryoablation - a procedure that kills a tumor by freezing it. A metal tube is placed into the tumor while the physician watches the process with ultrasound. The tube is cooled to -190° C (-360° F) and an ice ball engulfs the tumor, resulting in the death of the tumor cells.
•  Chemoembolization - a method of delivering chemotherapy directly into a tumor. A catheter is placed in a groin artery and guided into the artery that supplies blood to the tumor. A potent dose of a chemotherapy drug is infused through the catheter to the tumor, and the artery section is plugged to stop further blood flow to the area.
•  Surgery - surgery is an option for some metastatic liver cancers, which can be done either laparoscopically or through traditional opening, depending on location and extent of the tumor(s). Each patient is considered on an individual basis and many factors determine whether surgery is a viable option. A patient’s overall health, other medical conditions, extent of tumors, and the general health of the liver (e.g., bilirubin level) are among factors taken into account.

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