Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • +44 (0)20 7454 5110
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
Return to PR Newswire homepage
  • News
  • Products
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All Public Company News
      • All Multimedia News
      • View All News Releases

      • Regulatory News

      • D/A/CH Regulatory News
      • UK Regulatory News
      • View All Regulatory News

  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads & Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking & Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film & Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers & Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalisation
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls & Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil & Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defence
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking & Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers & Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines & Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics & Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture & Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewellery
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film & Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks & Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels & Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Animal Welfare
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Economic News, Trends & Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • Labour & Union
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Public Safety
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Overview
  • Distribution
  • Paid Placement
  • Multimedia
  • Disclosure Services
  • SocialBoost
  • Rooms
    • MediaRoom
    • ESG Rooms
  • AI Tools
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships
  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PR Newswire UK provides press release distribution, targeting, monitoring, and marketing services
  • Send a Release
    • Phone

    • +44 (0)20 7454 5110 from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT

    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us

      +44 (0)20 7454 5110
      from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT

  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • News in Focus
    • Browse News Releases
    • Regulatory News
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
    • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Overview
  • Distribution
  • Paid Placement
  • Multimedia
  • Disclosure Services
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • AI Tools
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists

First Patient in Malaysia Receives TheraSphere™ radioembolisation Therapy


News provided by

BTG plc

19 Oct, 2016, 06:00 GMT

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

This image opens in the lightbox
BTG (PRNewsFoto/BTG) (PRNewsFoto/BTG)

LONDON, October 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

BTG plc (LSE: BTG), an international specialist healthcare company, today announced that the first patient in Malaysia was treated with TheraSphere™ - a transarterial radioembolisation (TARE) therapy, which targets primary liver cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer with a powerful dose of radiation while minimising exposure to healthy tissue.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329110LOGO )

In Malaysia, primary liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer among men and the tenth most common cancer in the entire general population, accounting for 3.3% of all cancers diagnosed in Malaysia, with a high mortality rate.[1]

A multidisciplinary approach was taken with the first radioembolisation treatment of a patient with TheraSphere™ at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, with three physicians involved in the treatment.  Dr. Hairol Azrin Othman, Consultant Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgeon, said: "Radioembolisation appears to be a feasible, safe and promising approach in the treatment of choice for patients with unresectable HCC," while his colleague Dr. Yazmin Yaacob, Consultant Interventional Radiologist, stated: "We are happy to now offer patients more options and better outcomes especially for unresectable HCC or liver metastases".  Dr. Thanuja Mahaletchumy, Nuclear Medicine Specialist, was also part of the treating  team, and added: "TheraSphere® has opened a new dimension in the targeted therapy of unresectable primary and metastatic liver cancer and the properties of these glass microspheres allow optimal dose administration to the targeted area in liver."

TheraSphere™ glass microspheres, which are about a third of the width of a human hair, contain targeted amounts of radioactive yttrium90. The radioactive glass microspheres are delivered directly to liver tumours through the hepatic artery via a catheter, and as they penetrate the tumour via its supply of blood vessels, they become lodged and emit lethal beta radiation that is localized to the tumor tissue. TheraSphere™ glass microspheres have a high specific activity so fewer microspheres need to be administered to achieve the desired dose. As a result, they have minimal embolic effect.[2] This allows deeper penetration within the tumour, where the primary mechanism of action is radiation.[2] A key benefit of TheraSphere™ is the ability to achieve an optimal absorbed dose in the tumour leading to improved tumour response and better patient outcomes. [3]-[7] 

James Glasgow, General Manager, BTG Asia, said: "We are delighted that TheraSphere™ transarterial radioembolisation (TARE) therapy is available in Malaysia. This medical intervention could have meaningful outcomes for certain Malaysians diagnosed with primary liver cancer or metastatic colorectal cancer. Malaysia is now the fourth country in Asia where our minimally invasive procedure is offered as an option; physicians are already treating patients with TheraSphere™ in Hong Kong, South Korea and neighbouring Singapore."

In Malaysia, TheraSphere™ is available for the treatment of both primary liver cancer (also referred to as hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), and metastatic liver cancer (cancer that has spread to the liver from another point of origin). BTG is expanding its presence in Asia Pacific countries and TheraSphere™ is currently commercially available in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. The global specialist healthcare company distributes TheraSphere™ in Malaysia through Transmedic Healthcare Sdn Bhd.

About Liver Cancer 

Primary liver cancer occurs when liver cells become abnormal and grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour. The most common form of primary liver cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).  It is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide, with an estimated one million new cases diagnosed each year.  Long-term infection with the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus, which are more prevalent in Asian countries, are a common cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The liver, which continuously filters blood circulating through the body, is also susceptible to "secondary" cancers, caused when tumours in other organs such as the colon, rectum, breast, head or neck have spread to the liver. These tumours are also known as liver metastases.  The liver is the most common site of metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.

About BTG Interventional Medicine  

BTG Interventional Medicine is part of BTG plc, a growing international specialist healthcare company. As medicine moves from major surgery to minor procedure, from the systemic to the local, no company endeavours to do more than BTG Interventional Medicine to help doctors in their quest to see more, reach further and treat smarter. Our growing portfolio of Interventional Medicine products is designed to advance the treatment of liver tumours, advanced emphysema, severe blood clots, and varicose veins. To learn more about BTG Interventional Medicine, please visit: http://www.btg-im.com.

About TheraSphere™  

TheraSphere™ [90]Y glass microspheres are specifically engineered to carry far greater power than any other [90]Y liver-directed cancer therapy, delivering high doses of radiation to liver tumours while sparing normal tissue. The result is a powerful, targeted and well-tolerated therapy that may lead to patients becoming eligible for curative therapies.

In the EU, Singapore, South Korea and Canada, TheraSphere™ is approved for the treatment of hepatic neoplasia. In the US, TheraSphere™ is approved under a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) for use in radiation treatment or as a neoadjuvant to surgery or transplantation in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who can have placement of appropriately positioned hepatic arterial catheters.  The device is also indicated for HCC patients with partial or branch portal vein thrombosis/occlusion, when clinical evaluation warrants the treatment.  The effectiveness of this device for this use has not been demonstrated. For full instructions for use and important safety information, please visit http://www.therasphere.com.

TheraSphere™ is a registered trademark of Theragenics Corporation used under license by Biocompatibles UK Ltd, a BTG International group company. BTG and the BTG roundel logo are registered trademarks of BTG International Ltd.

For further information contact:

BTG plc
Chris Sampson, Corporate Communications Director
+44-20-7575-1595
Mobile: +44-7773-251-178

Media Liaison
Jonathan Kearney
+44-208-618-2755
Mobile: +44-7725-925-841

References: 

  1. Ministry of Health Malaysia. National Cancer Registry Report. http://www.care.upm.edu.my/dokumen/13603_NCR2007.pdf. Last accessed September, 2016.
  2. Pellerin O, et al. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2013;28(6):459-65.
  3. Riaz A, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2011;79(1):163-71.
  4. Mazzaferro V, et al. Hepatology 2013;57(5):1826-37.
  5. Vouche M, et al. Hepatology 2014;60(1):192-201.
  6. Chiesa C, et al. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2015;42(11):1718-38.
  7. Garin E, et al. J Nucl Med 2015;56(3):339-46.

Modal title

Contact PR Newswire

  • +44 (0)20 7454 5110
    from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships

Products

  • Content Distribution
  • Multimedia Services
  • Disclosure Services
  • Cision Communications Cloud®

About

  • About PR Newswire
  • About Cision
  • Partnering Opportunities
  • Careers
  • APAC
  • APAC - Simplified Chinese
  • APAC - Traditional Chinese
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Mexico
  • Middle East
  • Middle East - Arabic
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United States
  • Vietnam

My Services

  • All News Releases
  • Customer Portal
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Data Privacy

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via Privacy@cision.com 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact PR Newswire

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Customer Portal
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
+44 (0)20 7454 5110
from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 PR Newswire Europe Limited. All Rights Reserved. A Cision company.