Innovations in Oncology
Read more at healthawareness.co.uk
Hepatocellular carcinoma, known as HCC, is the most common form
of primary liver cancer in England. Now NICE has approved a new way
of treating advanced liver cancer using interventional radiology.S
elective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)
is a new NHS funded option for treating
HCC, yet is not necessarily a new
treatment as it has already been used
with great success in other areas.
It works by delivering high dose radiation
treatment into the artery supplying blood to
the tumour via a catheter and has now been
greenlighted by the NHS for use in 11 specialist
hospitals across the UK.
Dr Dominic Yu, Consultant Interventional
Radiologist at the Royal Free Hospital, London
says: “Interventional radiology is where we use
imaging to do procedures, usually those which
are minimally invasive. This means the risks
to the patients are lower, there’s less chance of
bleeding and a shorter recovery time, which is
important for patients as they are less likely to
get a hospital acquired disease.”
He adds, “We’re calling interventional
radiology the fourth pillar of cancer care. It’s
an additional option when it comes to treating
this type of liver cancer which we welcome – it’s
going to change patient care.”
The treatment itself is done via a pinhole
puncture and aims to control the tumour by
stopping it from growing. This can allow further
treatment options to be considered, prolong life
care in general or offer a better quality of life
before palliative care, where required.
Innovation in the field
Dr Abid Suddle, Consultant Hepatologist, Kings
College Hospital, London, says, “The innovative
part about this treatment is that it can target
specific areas such as the cancer, while avoiding
complications in the healthy liver tissue. SIRT
and other innovations are likely to radically
change the treatment paradigm for patients and
what NICE has done is to allow us as clinicians a
position where we can define, under reasonable
guidelines, where the use of SIRT should be in
the treatment protocol. I think that has been a
really positive step.”
Dr Praveen Peddu, Consultant Interventional
Radiologist specialising in liver and pancreatic
cancer at King’s College Hospital, London, is
also positive about SIRT. He says, “The decision
by NICE has been long awaited however, in the
UK we practice evidence-based medication.
Intuitively we’ve believed it’s been a good
option, but we wanted good quality evidencebefore we can offer it widely. Now NICE has
said we can go ahead and the hospital will be
reimbursed where there’s a valid reason for
carrying out the treatment. But we must use it
wisely.
“My view is that we should see it as another
important tool in our armoury against liver
cancer, but it is a complex procedure that
must be done in high volume centres that have
the multidisciplinary expertise to treat these
patients.”Exciting time for patients
Dr Nabil Kibriya, Consultant Interventional
Radiologist, Kings College Hospital, London,
says, “If a patient is offered a SIRT treatment,
it means that it’s positive news and that they
are going to get the most appropriate treatment
for their type of disease. We know it’s a safe
treatment as we’ve previously used it before
although it’s always good to ask about the side
effects. Compared to other options, these can
be much more pleasant and what’s more the
patient will only be offered this procedure if it
will provide a better quality of life.
“Right now there’s a limited number of sites in
the UK offering it. We’re hoping that over time
if it’s proved to be effective and hospitals have
appropriate patients and set-up, then more will
open. However, I think that there is currently
a good distribution of sites across the country
with experience in the procedure, which should
allow everyone to be referred on and treated.
I think it’s quite an exciting time, not just for
clinicians but more importantly for patients.”Dr Praveen Peddu
Consultant Interventional
Radiologist, Kings College
Hospital, LondonDr Nabil Kibriya
Consultant Interventional
Radiologist, Kings College
Hospital, LondonMr Abid Suddle
Consultant Hepatologist, Kings
College Hospital, LondonDr Dominic Yu
Consultant Interventional
Radiologist, Royal Free
Hospital, LondonSpread paid for by
Boston ScientificEmbracing the fourth pillar:
How interventional oncology
can help liver cancer
We’re calling interventional radiology
the fourth pillar of cancer care. It’s
an additional option when it comes
to treating this type of liver cancer
which we welcome – it’s going to
change patient care.CT scan showing targeted area of
liver to be treated by SIRT (in orange),
sparing surrounding healthy liver.PI-AA-1041201