BSD Medical Corp.
(Amex: BSM) today reported that its message of hope for greater success in
treating cancer patients was well received at the largest radiation
oncology conference held in America (the American Society of Therapeutic
Radiation and Oncology -- ASTRO) recently concluded in Philadelphia. BSD's
message of hope is clear. In spite of the advances in the treatment of
cancer, including the use of radiation therapy, over 40% of cancer victims
continue to die from the disease, but when BSD Medical's systems are used
to provide companion treatments to radiation therapy, clinical trials have
shown a sharp improvement in both cancer regression and patient survival
for some cancers.
ASTRO has over 8,500 members, and the attendance for the ASTRO
conference held November 5-9 was estimated at over 11,000. A paper on the
use of hyperthermia therapy in treating recurrent breast cancer was
presented at the ASTRO conference by Dr. A. O. Wahl of Northwestern
University, and the abstract was published by the International Journal of
Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, the official journal of ASTRO (see
Vol. 66, No. 3, Supplement, p. S109). The basis of this study was a
multi-institutional review of data provided by Northwestern University,
Chicago, Illinois, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, Lutheran
General Cancer Center, Park Ridge, Illinois and MD Anderson Cancer Center,
Houston, Texas. The study involved 71 patients who received a second round
of radiation of the breast or chest wall (some also receiving concurrent
chemotherapy) for locally recurrent breast cancer. Of the 71 patients, 59%
were also treated with hyperthermia therapy. The complete response rate for
the cancer of patients who received hyperthermia treatments as part of
their therapy was 67%, while 31% of the patients who were not given
hyperthermia therapy as part of their treatment had a complete response.
The conclusions of this ASTRO paper correspond with the results of an
earlier clinical study involving 109 patients with recurrent breast cancer
reported by Duke University and published in the Journal of Clinical
Oncology, the official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
(ASCO, see May 1, 2005 issue). In this randomized phase III study,
previously irradiated patients who received hyperthermia therapy along with
a second course of radiation experienced a complete response (total
disappearance of the tumor) at a rate nearly three times higher (68.2%)
than those patients who received the second radiation treatments alone
(23.5%). The Duke researchers contend their findings demonstrate that
hyperthermia plus radiation should be the new standard of care for these
women. Another study at Duke University is also showing promising
preliminary results in treating locally advanced primary breast cancer
using hyperthermia therapy (see BSD Medical's press release issued Nov. 8,
2006).
To underscore BSD Medical's message of hope, BSD's award winning
website, flowersforhope, was shown on a large screen display at the
front of BSD's ASTRO exhibit. The website, along with the display of BSD's
cancer treatment systems, drew much attention, and visitors at the exhibit
received a long-stemmed carnation with the address to the website attached.
Flowers for Hope is getting tens of thousands of visitors regularly who are
invited to send a virtual flower and a message of hope to others. The
website hyperlinks to BSD Medical's patient website where many cancer
patients and providers are learning about the hope for better cancer
treatment through BSD Medical's cancer therapy systems.
Phase III clinical trials have been conducted on the use of the
hyperthermia therapy in treating cancers for a number of cancer sites. For
a listing of these, visit BSDMedical and download the paper,
"Hyperthermia as a Cancer Therapy." BSD Medical develops cancer therapy
systems that employ precision-guided RF/microwave energy to deliver
therapeutic heat (including hyperthermia therapy) into tumors to kill
cancer cells directly and make radiation and/or chemotherapy more
effective.
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements, as that item is defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking
statements and projections or expectations of future events, including the
prospects for future sales of the Company's cancer therapy systems based on
the success of studies or any presentation of its products or its
therapies, including statements by researchers, are subject to risks and
uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
BSD Medical Corp.
flowersforhope