Brachytherapy using a composite source for a better controlled cancer treatment

· Description

Brachytherapy is a general term covering medical treatment wich involves placement of radioactive source near a disease tissue and may involve the temporary or permanent implantation or insertion of radioactive source into the body of a patient. This technique is currently used for the treatment of prostate cancer and avoids surgery. the radioactive source is thereby located in proximity to the area of the body wich is being treated. The invention provides the use of a radiation source , wich comprises at least two types of radioisotopes presenting different characteristics.

· Keywords

Brachytherapy, cancer treatment

· Potential applications

The composite source allows to take advantages of the two isotopes, but also to obtain a synergy in the treatment of cancer or apoptosis. The comnination of several radionuleides for brachytherapy purposes enable to improve the treatment of various kinds of disease, that are mainly cancer but also stenosis and necrosis of biological canals such as coronory arteries. Furthermore, the radiation characteristics can be precisely tuned for different tumour morphologies, particularly in case of breast and prostate cancer.

· Patent Status

Patent pending (WO02006063419)

· License

Available for license

· Contact

Nicole MOGUILEVSKY, PhD
Head of Technology Transfer Office
University of Namur
53 rue de Bruxelles
B-5000 Namur
BELGIUM
Phone: +32 81 72 50 47
Fax : +32 81 72 57 01
e-mail: nicole.moguilevsky@fundp.ac.be