In 2002, our group published the first promising results of using brachytherapy in treatment of rectal cancer but the publication was initially received with skepticism by both surgeons and radiation oncologists. However, 10 years later, the group leader (Dr. Té Vuong) published a review paper with a group of world-leading colorectal surgeons, which allayed the initial skepticism and the technique was officially recognized as a viable option for treatment of certain rectal tumors.
In the year 2000, the Nucletron introduced the very first commercially available treatment planning software (Plato), which marked the opening of a new era in brachytherapy: the era of Image Guided Brachytherapy (IGBT). From the very beginning, we embraced this new technology for the brachytherapy treatment planning of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.
In 2005, as a result of a collaborative effort with Nucletron, a new applicator was designed (Intracavitary Mold Applicator) allowing for improved conformal dose delivery with 8 channels equally distributed and a central shielding rod. This highly conformal dose delivery allowed us to further expand the clinical application to include inoperable rectal cancer patients treated with EMIA Radiation therapy as a boost modality after external beam treatment.