UK's NICE recommends new therapy for liver cancer patients

UK specialist health care company BTG (LSE: BTG) says that the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance recommending the use of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT), which includes TheraSphere, for patients with liver cancer across the National Health Service.

The guidance supports the use of the treatment for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma as well as for those with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and follows the previous recommendation for its use in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases.

The NHS in England is currently preparing guidelines on how SIRT should be used as a treatment option for patients with liver cancer, including those with colorectal cancer liver metastases and cholangiocarcinoma, after recently issuing an interim policy on how this therapy should be funded. The company said it is anticipated that this latest NICE guidance will result in a similar evaluation for patients with primary liver cancer.