New Treatment Approach for Head and Neck Cancers via Implantable Arterial Port Catheters
Medias Klinikum GmbH & Co KG, a private hospital specialized in surgical oncology, focusing on the treatment of primary and metastatic solid tumors, announces the results from a new treatment approach for head and neck cancers on the example of squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils, to be presented at the 5th World Congress on Vascular Access in Copenhagen, Denmark. This trial was conducted by Professor Dr. Karl R. Aigner, one of the world’s most experienced experts in the field of regional chemotherapy, and his group. In 1981, he developed the technique of isolated liver perfusion and was the first physician worldwide to perform this method in humans using a heart-lung machine.
The data of this new treatment approach will be presented in a poster presentation during the 5th World Congress on Vascular Access in Copenhagen/Denmark, from June 20th to 22nd, 2018. Abstract- No. 209: Carotid artery infusion via implantable jet-port-allround catheters for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils, to be published in the Journal of Vascular Access (J Vasc Access).
Commenting on the announcement, Professor Dr. Karl R. Aigner, Head of the Department of Surgical Oncology at Medias Klinikum, said, “Chemoradiotherapy has a dominant role in therapy of head and neck cancers and is associated with improved response and survival rates. However, because of the high incidence of permanent, long-lasting treatment-associated toxicities, there is a call for effective management of post-therapeutic quality of life issues faced by heavily treated patients. A study by Epstein JB published in A Cancer Journal for Clinicians in 2012, and Misono S published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2008, reported that continuously impaired quality of life even contributes to the increased risk of head and neck cancer treatment-related suicide and remains virtually throughout a cancer survivor’s life. Suicide is considered a major threat to head and neck cancer survivorship. In order to avoid exceeding toxicity from standard therapies, we considered a new treatment approach via implantable arterial port catheters. Thus, drugs can be administered easily without the technically demanding placement of angiographic catheters, via the arterial route. Intra- arterial infusion generates high regional cytostatic concentrations despite low total dosage. In combination with simultaneous chemofiltration in the venous return from the tumor area, systemic toxicity can be kept low.”
The results obtained in this trial showed that regional chemotherapy (RCT) via implantable so-called Jet-Port-Allround catheters is safe, facilitates intra-arterial chemotherapy and shows significant improvement to standard therapies in terms of locoregional and distant tumor control and quality of life (QoL). As such, the approach of intra-arterial chemotherapy via implantable Jet-Port-Allround catheters can be an option to be considered as a first step prior to irradiation.