
SIR-Spheres, the next generation of radioactive microspheres developed to treat liver cancer, are manufactured in Australia by Sirtex Medical, Inc.
The non-surgical outpatient therapy uses radioactive microspheres, called SIR-Spheres (Yttrium 90 resin microspheres), to deliver radiation directly to the site of the liver tumors.
Furthermore, the microspheres which are tiny resin beads (SIR Spheres) that are coated with a radioactive atom (yttrium-90) are carried by the bloodstream directly to the tumors in the liver where they preferentially lodge in the small vessels feeding the tumor and deliver their dose of radiation.
SIR-Spheres microspheres selectively irradiate the tumors and therefore have the ability to deliver more potent doses of radiation directly to the cancer cells over a longer period of time unlike conventional external beam radiation, which can only be applied to limited areas of the body.
Benefits of this next generation revolutionary internal radiation therapy:
- Slows the growth of liver metastases, relieves some of the symptoms they cause, and helps the patients live longer.
- Very Safe and promising treatment for patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer which has spread to the liver.
- An outpatient procedure
- Patients can go home the same day
- No need to stay in the hospital.