38 Cryoablation Studies, Exhibits Presented at National Radiological Society Meeting
Data Show Cryoablation to Be Safe, Effective Minimally Invasive Therapy for Treating Variety of Cancers
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Endocare, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ENDO), an innovative medical device company focused on the
development of minimally invasive technologies used by urologists and
interventional radiologists for tissue and tumor ablation, announced today
that physicians from leading medical institutions including Mayo Clinic,
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Wisconsin School
of Medicine, among others, will present a total of 38 scientific papers,
posters and educational exhibits related to cryoablation and its effectiveness
for treating a wide variety of cancers this week at the 93rd Scientific
Assembly and annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America
(RSNA) in Chicago. Cryoablation is a minimally invasive procedure in which
tumors are targeted with ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance
imaging guidance and treated by freezing.
The presentations include a 36-month update of a multi-center study that
demonstrates the safety, effectiveness and durability of cryoablation as a
means of dramatically reducing focal pain for patients whose cancer has spread
to their bones. The update on the study, which includes data from 50 of a
planned total of 60 patients, is being presented by Matthew Callstrom, M.D.,
PhD of Mayo Clinic, the lead investigator.
The conference also includes several presentations focused on percutaneous
renal, or kidney, cryoablation, the fastest growing cryoablation treatment.
Last January the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued for the
first time a payment code for percutaneous renal cryoablation, a procedure
that allows physicians to destroy small tumors in the kidney by inserting a
probe directly through the skin and freezing the cancerous tissue.
Data were also presented on the effectiveness of cryoablation for treating
liver, lung and brain cancers, as well as an immunologic response that occurs
in high risk prostate cancer patients treated with cryoablation.
"We are very excited that so many of the world's leading and most creative
interventional radiologists are looking to cryoablation as a treatment for
bone pain, lung and kidney cancers, in addition to the more traditional use of
cryoablation to treat prostate cancer," said Endocare interim CEO Terrence A.
Noonan. "The promising RSNA data and the enthusiasm cryoablation is generating
among physicians supports our contention that cryoablation is a platform
medical technology that can be beneficial to patients with a wide variety of
cancers. From a strictly business standpoint, cryoablation for prostate cancer
remains a core focus, but this conference demonstrates that there is a broad
future for cryoablation as a safe and effective treatment for many forms of
cancer."
About Endocare
Endocare, Inc. -- www.endocare.com -- is an innovative medical device
company focused on the development of minimally invasive technologies for
tissue and tumor ablation. Endocare has initially concentrated on developing
technologies for the treatment of prostate cancer and believes that its
proprietary technologies have broad applications across a number of markets,
including the ablation of tumors in the kidney, lung and liver and palliative
intervention (treatment of pain associated with metastases).
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those
discussed in "Risk Factors" in the Company's Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such risk factors
include, but are not limited to, the following items: the Company has a
limited operating history with significant losses and losses may continue in
the future; the Company may require additional financing to sustain its
operations and without it the Company may not be able to continue operations;
the Company's business may be materially and adversely impacted by the loss of
the Company's largest customer or the reduction, delay or cancellation of
orders from this customer or if this customer delays payment or fails to make
payment; the Company may be required to make state and local tax payments that
exceed the Company's settlement estimates; uncertainty regarding the ability
to convince health care professionals and third party payers of the medical
and economic benefits of the Company's products; uncertainty relating to third
party reimbursement; the risk that intense competition and rapid technological
and industry change may make it more difficult for the Company to achieve
significant market penetration; and uncertainty regarding the ability to
secure and protect intellectual property rights relating to the Company's
technology. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially
from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The
Company undertakes no obligation to revise, or update publicly, any forward-
looking statements for any reason.
Investors, Matt Clawson
Allen & Caron, Inc.
(949) 474-4300
matt@allencaron.com
www.allencaron.com
Media Contact:
Len Hall
Allen & Caron, Inc.
(949) 474-4300
len@allencaron.com
www.allencaron.com
For Additional Information:
Terrence A. Noonan, CEO
Michael R. Rodriguez, CFO
Endocare, Inc.
(949) 450-5400
www.endocare.com