Surefire Medical, Inc., a medical device company developing innovative infusion systems for the interventional radiology and interventional oncology markets, announced the launch of the its new Precision targeted delivery infusion system for direct-to-tumor embolization procedures.

The new technology  displayed at the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) 2015 Scientific Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. Surefire infusion systems are used by interventional radiologists and interventional oncologists in minimally invasive primary and secondary liver cancer treatments.

"Chemo- and radioembolization techniques are becoming valuable treatment options in selected patients with unresectable liver tumors. The Precision catheter provides us with a new interventional tool to safely and effectively deliver drug eluting and yttrium-90 microspheres within the tumor," said Prof. Dr G Maleux, Department of Radiology of the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.

The Precision addresses a clear need in the ability to treat primary liver cancers, 80 per cent of which are inoperable, and may help lower the overall costs of treatment.  A recent prospective clinical trial shows the Surefire infusion technology increased drug delivery into tumors by as much as 90 per cent and reduced non-target delivery to healthy tissue. The Precision has received the CE Mark and FDA clearance.

"The drug delivery system matters far more than previously thought," said  Surefire Medical's president and CEO James E. Chomas.  "Primary liver cancers often contain regions of high pressure and no blood flow, creating a barrier to drug delivery.  The Surefire Precision device uniquely overcomes this obstacle by controlling pressure during drug delivery such that drug penetration into tumors increases significantly."

Liver cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide.  Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 83 per cent of liver cancers and has an increased incidence in patients with cirrhosis or chronic inflammation such as that seen in viral hepatitis. HCC incidence has doubled in the past 20 years, increasing the cost burden of treatment.