ZOETERMEER, 27 February 2009 - Using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) imaging technologies developed by Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, Institut Gustave Roussy, European Leading comprehensive cancer center, Villejuif, France, is evaluating efficacy of targeted treatments in cancer patients. DCE-US data acquired with Toshiba’s top-of-the-line ultrasound scanner Aplio XGTM are being analyzed with an algorithm developed by Dr Nathalie Lassau’s team at Institut Gustave Roussy to assess the anticancer efficacy of antiangiogenic treatments. “Reduction of tumor vascularisation is an early indicator of a positive treatment response which we believe can be detected as early as 1-2 weeks after the start of the treatment” Dr. Nathalie Lassau, MD, PhD, from Institut Gustave Roussy explains, “we are relying on the high sensitivity and resolution of the DCE-US imaging data, in the form of linear raw data we try to get them in its most original form from the ultrasound scanner”. “To meet the demand for highest quality imaging data we are continuously improving our techniques for contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Our engineers in the ultrasound R&D department have long experience and an excellent track-record with this technology and are always eager to test their new developments and improvements together with top clinical research partners such as IGR”, Dr. Christoph Simm, Senior Manager of the Ultrasound Business Unit in Toshiba Medical Systems Europe, says, “Vascular Recognition Imaging (VRI) and Advanced Dynamic FlowTM (ADF) are examples of such developments which have been useful for the studies of our clinical partner Institut Gustave Roussy. The platform concept of Aplio XGTM allows us to improve the system with every software or hardware revision. Our partners and customers can stay up-to-date with the latest developments without having to exchange the entire scanner. In difficult economic circumstances this can become an important aspect when purchasing a premium end ultrasound machine such as Aplio XGTM”.
Based on the results from Institut Gustave Roussy, a French National Program of DCE-US has been set up with the support of the French Ministry of Health, National Cancer Institute, Toshiba Medical Systems, and a major European manufacturer of contrast agents. Dr. Lassau has been appointed principal investigator of the study: “The objective is to further extend and validate the methodology, and to demonstrate the feasibility of DEC-US in general hospitals in France. We want to prove that DCE-US is a very cost effective and quick method to guide and optimize cancer therapy”, she says. In this multicentre study there are 19 clinical sites in France involved. Finally, 650 patients suffering from primary liver cancer, and metastatic tumors from various other primary cancers such as breast cancer, skin cancer (melanoma), cancer of the kidney, and colon cancer will be included. New therapies with novel drugs in phase I, II, and III as well as already approved drugs are being evaluated. Currently, more than 349 patients are already enrolled. For the entire study 4800 ultrasound examinations will be performed. “Our challenge is now to extract the best parameters from the analysis of time-intensity-curves (TICs) we calculate from the ultrasound data to predict tumor response to a specific drug as early and as precise as possible” Dr. Lassau adds. Toshiba Medical Systems and Institut Gustave Roussy are collaborating also to develop and improve software tools for processing and analyzing the data.
DCE-US studies by Institut Gustave Roussy are attracting increasing interest internationally. Institut Gustave Roussy has started collaborations on DCE-US with many top ranked research institutions in Europe, USA, Japan, and Singapore.
Time Intensity Curve used for treatment evaluation (image from Institut Gustave Roussy)
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Aplio and Advanced Dynamic Flow are trademarks of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation.
About Toshiba Medical Systems
With headquarters in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, Toshiba Medical Systems Europe BV markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in Europe.
Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, a group company of Toshiba Corporation, is a global leading provider of innovative diagnostic medical imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray, Ultrasound, MRI and information systems.
Toshiba Corporation is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products, and power systems. Toshiba Corporation has approximately 198,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of € 59 billion.
For more information, visit www.toshiba-medical.eu
Contact: Joerg C. Schlegel
Phone: +31 79 368 9234
E-mail: jschlegel@tmse.nl
For further information:
Contact: Jack Hoogendoorn
Phone: +31 79 368 9274
E-mail: jhoogendoorn@tmse.nl
About Institut Gustave Roussy
The Institut Gustave Roussy (IGR, Villejuif, France), European leading comprehensive Cancer Center, is a non profit academic entity belonging to the French public hospital service and that is authorized to receive donations and legacies. IGR is a center wholly patient-oriented with a global expertise and the mission to fight cancer. Located South of Paris on a single site, IGR employs 2,000 professionals working in care, research and teaching. Some IGR figures: 368 beds and places for day-cases, 159 certified physicians, 751 professional caregivers, 161,000 consultations and 43,000 patients cared per year, 14 basic research units, 300 research scientists, and 260 students, researchers and doctors trained per year.
For more information, visit www.igr.fr
Institut Gustave Roussy Press Office :
Chloé LOUYS
Phone : +33 (0)1 42 11 50 59
E-mail : chloe.louys@igr.fr