New Delhi, Jan 19 || In the first-ever study, Australian researchers have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of using stabilised hyaluronic acid (sHA) gel during radiation treatment for gynaecological cancers.
The gel is already approved by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in prostate cancer radiation treatment.
The team led by experts from Monash University investigated hyaluronic acid gel for the first time in women as a means to gently create more space between the tumour and the rectum during MRI-guided brachytherapy -- a type of internal radiation treatment.
By creating this space, clinicians aimed to reduce radiation exposure to the rectum, allowing a higher dose of radiation to reach the tumour with more effective targeting, reducing damage to healthy tissue, and potentially improving treatment results.
"This study is a world-first in exploring stabilised hyaluronic acid (sHA) gel's potential to improve outcomes for patients undergoing brachytherapy for gynaecological cancers. Our findings show the procedure is safe, feasible, and offers promising technical advantages,” said Dr. Carminia Lapuz, from Monash University.