Ferrotran® is proven
more effective in early detection.
The overall survival of patients with prostate cancer and lymph node metastases depends on the size of the metastatic lymph node at the time of diagnosis. In nanoparticle MRI with Ferrotran® können die Lymphknotenmetastasen in einem viel früheren Stadium als bisher erkannt und damit auch therapiert werden. Strahlentherapeutentherapeuten, Chirurgen und / oder Urologen können die Metastasen präziser anvisieren, wodurch gesundes Gewebe während der Therapie geschont werden kann und somit unnötige Nebenwirkungen und Komplikationen für den Patienten vermieden werden.
Ferrotran® is proven
more effective in early detection.
The overall survival of patients with prostate cancer and lymph node metastases depends on the size of the metastatic lymph node at the time of diagnosis. In nanoparticle MRI with Ferrotran® , the lymph node metastases can be detected and therefore treated at a much earlier stage than before. Radiation therapists, surgeons and / or urologists can target the metastases more precisely, which means that healthy tissue can be spared during therapy and unnecessary side effects and complications for the patient can be avoided.
Studies prove
the effectiveness.
The graphic clearly shows that patients with smaller lymph nodes (short axis up to 8 mm) have a much better chance of survival than patients with larger lymph nodes (short axis longer than 8 mm). The x-axis shows the survival time of the patients in months , on the Y-axis the number of surviving patients in %. [Meijer, Radiat Oncol. 2013; 8: 190]
New benchmarks
In metastasis detection.
The figure shows the results of a study in which Ferrotran®-enhanced MRI lymphangiography (MRL) was compared with 11CCholine PET-CT for the detection of lymph node metastases. The size of the detected metastatic lymph nodes is shown on the X-axis and the number of detected nodes are displayed on the Y-axis. It is immediately apparent that choline PET-CT is significantly inferior to MRL for the detection of metastatic lymph nodes smaller than 8 mm.
This is a critical advantage because up to 83% of all metastatic lymph nodes in prostate cancer patients are smaller than 8 mm and approximately 50% of these small nodes are less than 3 mm in diameter. [Birkhauser, Eur Urol 2013; Fortuin, Eur Urol 2013].
New benchmarks
In metastasis detection.
The figure shows the results of a study in which Ferrotran®-enhanced MRI lymphangiography (MRL) was compared with 11CCholine PET-CT for the detection of lymph node metastases. The size of the detected metastatic lymph nodes is shown on the X-axis and the number of detected nodes are displayed on the Y-axis. It is immediately apparent that choline PET-CT is significantly inferior to MRL for the detection of metastatic lymph nodes smaller than 8 mm.
This is a critical advantage because up to 83% of all metastatic lymph nodes in prostate cancer patients are smaller than 8 mm and approximately 50% of these small nodes are less than 3 mm in diameter. [Birkhauser, Eur Urol 2013; Fortuin, Eur Urol 2013].
New benchmarks
In metastasis detection.
The figure shows the results of a study in which Ferrotran®-enhanced MRI lymphangiography (MRL) was compared with 11CCholine PET-CT for the detection of lymph node metastases. The size of the detected metastatic lymph nodes is shown on the X-axis and the number of detected nodes are displayed on the Y-axis. It is immediately apparent that choline PET-CT is significantly inferior to MRL for the detection of metastatic lymph nodes smaller than 8 mm.
This is a critical advantage because up to 83% of all metastatic lymph nodes in prostate cancer patients are smaller than 8 mm and approximately 50% of these small nodes are less than 3 mm in diameter. [Birkhauser, Eur Urol 2013; Fortuin, Eur Urol 2013].
The scientific
basics of the studies.
It is believed that Ferrotran® is taken up by the mononuclear phagocytic system, particularly in lymph nodes, and less by metastases. In non-metastatic lymph nodes, the presence of Ferrotran® is expected to result in lower signal intensity, i.e. the lymph nodes appear dark on T2 and T2*-weighted sequences in the MRI scan compared to native MRI scans. This effect is called magnetic susceptibility. However, metastatic lesions in lymph nodes retain their signal intensity.
Investigator-initiated studies
by SPL Medical with Ferrotran®.
- Pancreatic carcinoma LN
- Pancreatic carcinoma LN
- Esophageal carcinoma LN
- Prostate carcinoma LN
- Head and neck tumors LN
- Multiple sclerosis
Links to Registries
Technical information about Ferrotran®
here for download.
Ferrotran® is currently not yet approved as a drug, but the comprehensive clinical studies show promising results. Ten hospitals spread across Europe are currently participating: a total of 180 patients will be included. Prof. Jelle Barentsz from the Radboud Hospital in Nijmegen has already examined hundreds of patients with this contrast medium.
SPL Medical would like to make Ferrotran® available to more patients in the future to enable them to receive earlier and patient-specific treatment.
If you are looking for more detailed information about Ferrotran® and/or the studies, you will find relevant files to download here.