Surefire Medical touts infusion tech in liver cancer trial

Surefire Medical touted data today from a retrospective analysis of 85 bridge-to-transplant liver cancer patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization.

The data showed that therapy delivered using the Surefire infusion system yielded an 80% complete response in 1 treatment compared to 52% with a standard endhole microcatheter. The analysis also demonstrated a lower recurrence rate of liver cancer at 1 month for patients that used Surefire’s technology instead of a conventional microcatheter.

All of the study’s participants were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and were eligible for a liver transplant.

In 1 subanalysis, researchers found that the use of Surefire’s infusion system improved tumor uptake. 89% of chemo beads were delivered to the tumor in patients that used the Surefire technology compared to 55% of beads in the group that used a standard microcatheter procedure.

Another review found that the tumor necrosis rate for Surefire procedures was 89% versus 56% for the microcatheter approach.

“This study of bridge-to-transplant patients with HCC provides further evidence to suggest that Surefire may be a more effective tool to downstage patients for transplant when compared with a standard endhole microcatheter,” transplant hepatologist Dr. Lance Stein said in prepared remarks. “As evidenced in this and previous clinical studies, the use Surefire technology in embolization procedures optimizes penetration of therapy in tumors, which potentially increases complete response rates and spares healthy tissue. The data also showed consistently high tumor necrosis was achieved with the Surefire.”

Westminster, Colo.-based Surefire Medical has 5 other ongoing clinical trials of its technology, which combines a microcatheter with an expandable tip that boosts tumor uptake while protecting healthy tissue, according to the company.