PGI doc develops cheap procedure to treat liver cancer

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29

A PGI doctor has developed a cost-effective indigenous microsphere for selective intra-arterial radioactive therapy (SIRT), used to treat or downgrade unresectable liver cancer.

The therapy costs Rs 5,000 in addition to the procedural cost. Otherwise, the therapy kit is imported from countries like Canada and Australia, costing Rs 7 lakh to 10 lakh. “So far, the therapy has been tried on 30 patients. Other hospitals too have shown their interest in it,” shared Dr Jaya Shukla, Additional Professor, Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET, PGI.

Shukla had developed the therapy in 2013. Thereafter, a feasibility study was conducted on 15 patients.

“It is first such procedure in India. It is the result of the collaboration of Departments of Herpetology, Radiodiagnosis and Nuclear Medicine at the PGI. Without their assistance and the guidance of Dr BR Mittal, HoD, Nuclear Medicine, it would not have been possible,” said the radiochemist.

“I have sent this study to the patent office. The process to get its patent is under way. It ensure cost-effective treatment. It costs just Rs 5,000. Other hospitals can too use it and we are going to prepare a ready-to-use kit for them. The PGI has funded me for the development of the kit,” she said further.

Sharing the procedure, Dr Shukla said the microsphere in suspension form were infused into the tumour through an artery. The process takes around 10 minutes.

This therapy has helped people survive for about 11 months or the maximum two years. In less serious cases, the survival period is much more. It can be provided after four months, depending on the health of a patient.

Globally, the treatment is developed using radioisotope Y-90 microsphere. While at the PGI, it has been developed using microsphere with the help of commercially available Re-188 generator.

Causes  

• Alcohol consumption
• Water-borne diseases

Symptoms

• Stomach ache  
• Loss of appetite  

Who needs it

• Those who cannot go for a surgery and have no other option left

Benefits of treatment

• Downgrades cancer
• Improves quality of life

Not to be used if... 

• Platelet count is less
• Bilirubin is much
• Tumour in other organs besides liver