Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Author: staff

This information might come as a breather for cancer patients who go through bouts of pain during chemotherapy.

Regional Chemotherapy (RCT), a latest development, promises to deliver higher survival and recovery rates than conventional chemotherapy. Cancer specialist Dr Karl Reinhad Aigner, who introduced RCT in Germany, is discussing the possibility with Indian hospitals, including Kidwai Institute of Oncology.

Aigner, who was in the city on Friday, said: “RCT is restricted to a part of the body or an organ, making it safer. There are fewer side effects despite the strong effect on the tumour.”

The drug is administered regionally, in the area of supply of an artery. Aigner, who has successfully treated many patients using RCT in Germany, said: “Side effects are greatly reduced. RCT is subjectively tolerated in 95% of the cases. The quality of life is often improved after treatment.” A patient receives six cycles of therapy and requires no major surgery.

Oncology surgeon Dr Vijay Kumar said: “When a patient is administered a low-dose concentration, efficacy is less and failure rate high. In RCT the dose is of high concentration and so the efficacy is more.”

More than 2 million people in India are cancer patients. Dr Kumar said to introduce RCT, infrastructure with required equipment has to be established. “RCT can be used for all types of cancer, and especially benefit patients suffering from oral cancer. Eighty per cent of the patients reach the hospital at an advanced stage,” he explained.

Note:
1. from www.expressbuzz.com:
RCT is a therapy administered ‘regionally’, i.e. in the area of blood supply of an artery. The drug (cytostatic agent or chemotherapeutic drug) will be administered via the artery which supplies to the tumour itself or the region of the tumour. A larger amount of the drug is absorbed into the tissue during the first passage through the tumour. The rest of the drug leaves the tumour region in the venous drainage and reaches the systemic circulation, leading to a better drug effect.