OR-Live.com presents: Live Brain Cancer Surgery: Brain Tumor Removal With GliaSite Radiation Therapy

Procedure is part of Study to Evaluate Benefits of Administering Internal Radiation as Primary Therapy to Target Brain Cancer at the Tumor Site

Live webcast: February 8, 2005 4:00pm CST, 5:00 pm EST

Methodist Healthcare will host a live surgical Webcast at Methodist University Hospital Tuesday, February 8, 2005, 4 pm, showcasing a brain surgery that targets radiation directly to a tumor cavity. The Webcast will feature Dr. Allen K. Sills, Jr., MD, neurosurgeon, Methodist University Hospital, as he performs a procedure using the GliaSite Radiation Therapy System (RTS). Frederick A. Boop, MD, Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, LeBonheur Children's Medical Center will narrate the event.

In addition to watching Dr. Allen K. Sills, Jr. perform live brain surgery; viewers will learn more about GliaSite RTS and hear from a patient who is being treated with GliaSite RTS as a first-line approach to metastatic brain cancer. Viewers will also be able to e-mail questions to Dr. Robertson and make referrals and appointments.

The patient who is receiving GliaSite RTS during the live Webcast is part of a clinical study being led by Methodist University Hospital which is examining the effectiveness of using GliaSite as an approach to treating tumors that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body. The study involves 10 centers that will analyze the benefits of using the GliaSite RTS to treat patients with newly diagnosed metastatic brain cancer. Dr. Allen K. Sills, Jr. along with Allen Redmond, research coordinator, Memphis Regional Brain Tumor Center, wrote the clinical trial.

"This study offers a new strategy for treating the more than 17,000 people newly diagnosed with malignant primary brain tumors each year," said Dr. Sills. "Through this study, we will examine the effectiveness of GliaSite in combination with approved chemotherapy agents as a first approach to treat patients suffering from brain cancer. We hope that this combination will improve the effectiveness of radiation while minimizing side effects."

"The clinical outcomes with GliaSite to date have been positive, with an average survival rate of more than a year," said Dr. Sills.

Visit http://www.or-live.com/methodisthealth/1293 now to view a preview video. A VNR is available at http://www.or-live.com/rams/met-1293-mkw-q.ram

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