|
|
Current and Breaking News for Professionals, Consumers and Media |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Current and Breaking News for Professionals, Consumers and Media |
|
|
|
|
|
Regional delivery of drugs to the liver For many years researchers have experimented with ways to isolate the liver and deliver high dosages of drugs to treat cancer of the liver. Results have been encouraging but the techniques have required surgical intervention which can limit a patient to one procedure and can have lengthy recovery times. Hepatic arterial infusion is another way to deliver drugs to the liver. Arterial infusion, opposed to systemic administration via an IV line or pill, can lesson the side affects of drugs, but since the liver is not isolated there is still a limit on the concentration of drugs that can be used. What is Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP)? PHP is a procedure that permits high dosages of drugs to reach the liver while limiting systemic exposure. PHP builds upon the years of research in liver perfusion and arterial infusion techniques. Drugs are injected via the hepatic artery much like hepatic arterial infusion, and then the blood leaving the liver is drained into a catheter and filtered to remove the excess drugs and limit systemic exposure. The cleansed blood is then returned to the patient. PHP can deliver much higher dosages compared to typical hepatic arterial infusion. Unlike surgical liver isolation, PHP can be repeatedly performed and has fewer complications and shorter recovery times. PHP has the potential to treat both primary and secondary liver cancers. Cancer that originates in the liver (primary liver cancer) About 18,000 cases of primary liver are diagnosed yearly in the US. Hepatitis-C and alcohol use are the major contributors to this disease. Survival rates for primary liver cancer have essentially remained unchanged the past decades and surgical resection is still the only potential cure. Cancer that spreads to the liver (secondary liver cancer) Many cancers that originate in one part of the body can spread to the liver. Colorectal cancer and ocular melanoma are examples of cancers that frequently metastasize to the liver with the liver cancer being the main component leading to death. Other cancers that can lead to dramatic tumor burden of the liver are breast, neuroendocrine, and pancreatic. An estimated 225,000 new cases of secondary liver cancers are diagnosed yearly in the US. Why liver health is vital for cancer patients Cancer can severely impair the liver's ability to perform crucial functions such as removing harmful material from the blood and aiding in digestion of food. A healthy liver is essential for a patient to maintain an active lifestyle. Often times when cancer originates in or spreads to the liver, the tumors in the liver can lead to death. Managing the tumor burden found in the liver can have a direct influence on quality of life and increase odds of survival. More information on Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion can be found at www.livercancertrials.com www.HealthNewsDigest.com Top of Page 
|
Contact
Us | Job Listings
| Help | Site
Map | About Us
Advertising
Information | HND
Press Release | Submit
Information | Disclaimer
Site hosted by Sanchez Productions
