Personalized irradiation therapy for NMSC by rhenium-188 skin cancer therapy: a long-term retrospective study

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to provide long-term clinical data about an innovative epidermal radioisotope therapy called Rhenium-SCT® (Skin Cancer Therapy) for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), based on the use of the non-sealed beta emitter rhenium-188.

Material and Methods

NMSC patients with a mean age of 71.7 years were treated with rhenium-188 skin cancer therapy between the years 2005 and 2014. An acryl matrix containing rhenium-188 was applied on a plastic foil covering the tumor. The treatment time for reaching a radiation dose of 50 Gy was calculated by a software program. Patients’ characteristicsand clinical follow-up data were collected and retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Overall 55 lesions (32 BCC, 19 SCC, 2 M. Bowen and 2 extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD)) mainly in the head and neck region (72.3%) were treated. The average size of the irradiation area was 9.79 cm² and the mean treatment time 46.35 minutes. All lesions showed a complete remissionafter a follow-up period between 3 and more than 12 months. No complications or other post-interventional problems were reported.

Conclusions

Rhenium-SCT® is considered as an effective, rapid, safe, painless treatment mostly performed in a single therapeutic session, regardless of the shape complexity, anatomical site and number of lesions.

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