Treat Prostate Cancer with Less Invasive Methods and Fewer Adverse Effects

SLU ID 23-012 | Radiopaque Resorbable Hydrogel Beads for Catheter Embolization Applications

Background

Embolization is not currently used to treat prostate cancer. However, the use of embolization devices to treat cancers other than hepatocellular carcinoma has greatly increased in recent years. Under the current standard of care, a contrast agent is injected separately prior to bead embolization. The contrast agent is supposed to show the clinician where the beads will end up. But the beads themselves cannot be visualized. As a consequence, off-target embolization is a significant risk and clinicians have no way of assessing how many beads made it to the target location and how many were lodged in off-target locations and which off-target locations. Other methods and products are available but they are ineffective and not conducive to follow up imaging.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have developed radiopaque resorbable hydrogel beads and methods for their fabrication. These hydrogel beads are suitable for catheter embolization applications such as minimally invasive chemoembolization and harmonal embolization for prostate cancer.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Minimizing the invasiveness of prostate cancer treatments

• Minimizing the toxicity of prostate cancer treatments

• Minimizing the adverse effects of prostate cancer treatments

• Increasing the quality of life of prostate cancer patients

• Increasing the precision of prostate cancer treatments

• Minimizing the risk of off-target embolization

Applications

The potential applications of this technology include interventional oncological embolization for various types of cancers, particularly prostate cancer.

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking a partner to further develop and commercialize this technology.