BARC develops an eye cancer therapy, successfully used by AIIMS Delhi

• A newly discovered eye cancer therapy has been applied to treat the patients with ocular tumors in the AIIMS-Delhi by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: A newly discovered eye cancer therapy has been applied to treat the patients with ocular tumors in the AIIMS-Delhi by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The therapy results by using Ruthenium 106 plaque for treatment of a patient with choroidal hemangioma (benign tumor in blood vessels) have satisfied the officials, Surendra Singh.

Junior atomic energy minister Jitendra Singh, who expedited the collaboration between the nuclear energy department and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, admired BARC for generating the “simple and cost-effective therapy” for eye cancer patients. A DAE statement said the plaque is said to be on par with international standards.

The handling of BARC-developed plaque is very convenient for surgeons, and it is said to be on a par with international standards, a statement of the DAE said. Ruthenium plaque therapy involves placing a radioactive source like Ruthenium-106 (a radioisotope) in contact with cancer therapy’s eyeball surface. Ru-106 is recovered from radioactive waste and has a simple and slim design. One plaque can treat about 50 patients, and its usable life is one year.

Besides AIIMS, it has been made available free of cost to two more hospitals, Hyderabad-based Centre for Sight and Sankara Eye Hospital in Bengaluru. BARC’s indigenously developed Ruthenium-106 plaque also boosts PM Narendra Modi’s ‘vocal for local’ call.
It all started in October last year when DAE chairman K N Vyas held a detailed discussion with Jitendra Singh regarding the feasibility of developing this regimen of ophthalmic patches. Following this, minister Jitendra Singh, a doctor, facilitated the collaboration between the DAE and AIIMS.

According to Dr. Atul Kumar, professor and head of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, the BARC plaques have been used in seven ocular cancer cases now. Two were used in retinoblastoma cases, two for choroidal melanoma, two for ocular surface squamous neoplasia, and one for choroidal hemangioma.
In the last five years, Jitendra Singh said that DAE has striven to diversify its activities and applications for the common man’s benefit. He said developing the indigenous plaque brachytherapy for eye cancer patients is also one such initiative in medical management.
Jitendra Singh, who also handles the ministry of development of the North Eastern Region, also informed that the Borooah Cancer Hospital in Guwahati had been co-opted with the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, Mumbai, which functions under the aegis of the DAE.

The DAE is also contributing in other areas. For example, BARC is developing an advanced bulletproof jacket for security personnel. The farm sector shares its irradiation technique with food companies to extend the shelf life of vegetables and other perishable food products.

Source: TOI