| "WellStar Kennestone Hospital and The Breast Center in Marietta directed by Philip Z. Israel, M.D., announced today that it has completed treatment of the first breast cancer patient with a breakthrough new therapy for early stage breast cancer. Designed to help reduce recurrence of breast cancer, the Axxent(R) Electronic Brachytherapy System from Xoft, Inc., uses a miniaturized X-ray source that can deliver localized and targeted radiation treatment in virtually any clinical setting under the supervision of a radiation oncologist. WellStar Kennestone is the first medical center in the world to use an Axxent System, bringing improved patient access to the new cancer treatment that is delivered more easily and conveniently." " "We are excited to be the first breast care center to offer this exciting new treatment for early stage breast cancer designed to reduce recurrence utilizing electronic, X-ray based radiation therapy," said Dr. Kenneth Haile, medical director of the radiation oncology department at Kennestone Hospital. "Unlike brachytherapy sources containing radioactive isotopes, the Electronic Brachytherapy X-ray source can be turned on and off at will, enabling it to be delivered in many clinical settings rather than in traditional heavily-shielded environments. The result is on-demand X-ray treatments that we expect will improve patient access to critical radiation therapy."" " Used to treat cancer for more than 100 years, radiation therapy is administered after breast-sparing surgery to hopefully kill stray cancer cells that might remain in the breast and is proven to reduce the rate of local recurrences and improve long-term survival. Cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of early stage breast cancer, the Axxent System is designed to deliver therapy directly to cancer sites with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Eliminating the need for heavily shielded environments, it gives radiation oncologists the flexibility to deliver therapy in a broader range of clinical settings." " Data from several randomized controlled clinical studies has demonstrated that radiation therapy is an essential component of treatment for breast cancer when the patient wishes to conserve her breast with lumpectomy surgery as opposed to undergoing a full mastectomy. However, more recent studies have shown that many patients opt out of receiving breast sparing surgery with radiation therapy due to time, distance, or difficulty accessing radiation therapy centers." " Use of the Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System provides the ability to reduce the time required for radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer from seven weeks (for external radiation therapy) down to five days. As a result, tens of thousands of patients will have greater access to therapy that is delivered more easily and conveniently. This may accelerate patient choice of breast sparing lumpectomy surgery with adjuvant radiation therapy over the alternative of a full mastectomy." " "As Electronic Brachytherapy now moves into clinical practice, all signs
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