In spite of the variety of treatments available, the rate of tumor recurrence and the
disease progression has been high among Intermediate to-high risk patients.
Synergo technology combines local heating of the urinary bladder wall (hyperthermia),
with simultaneous flushing of the urinary bladder with a chemotherapeutic agent.
Both heating and flushing are administered through a special catheter inserted into the
urinary bladder through the urethra.
The Synergo Catheter inserted through the urethra
The Synergo Catheter situated in the bladder during treatment, heat and chemotherapy are uniformly distributed.
The Synergo catheter performs three main functions:
Uniform heating of the bladder wall by means of a small antenna emitting radio-frequency radiation (microwave radiation).
Temperature monitoring by sensitive thermocouples in several locations on the bladder wall.
Circulation of the cooled chemotherapeutic drug into and out of the bladder.
All data is processed and monitored by the Synergo computer, so bladder
temperature remains constant and stable throughout the treatment. Synergo
technology has been approved by the European Standard Authorities (CE) and it is now in
the process of obtaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
It is successfully implemented in leading medical centers around the world (Italy,
Germany, France, Austria, Israel, The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland). So far, hundreds of patients have been
treated with impressive results. Synergo treatment has
yielded a drop in the post-surgery tumor recurrence ratios compared to traditional treatments (from 58% to 17% in a two-year follow-up, and from 65% to 26% in an estimated
five-year follow-up).
There are two indications for treatment with Synergo:
Treatment for the prevention of tumor recurrence (prophylactic treatment).
For patients who have undergone complete tumor removal by surgery (TURBT) or by laser fulguration (TUF). This treatment constitutes an alternative to traditional urinary bladder flushing with
chemotherapy or immunotherapy after tumor resection.
Results of Synergo – Prophylactic treatment (2 year follow- up)
(see ref. 1)
Treatment for the destruction of the tumor (ablation treatment).
For patients with an extensive tumor or larg malignant areas
in the urinary bladder (difficult to remove in a single surgical procedure),
for patients with frequently recurring tumors and for patients with high operative risk.
Results of Synergo - Ablative treatment
(ref. 2) * Partial response enabling the removal of the tumor in a single procedure
In both treatment approaches, the patient is treated with a series of weekly one-hour treatments
(prophylactic patients are further treated with a series of monthly sessions),
in the hospital’s outpatient clinic. Patients return to their daily activities after treatment.
Synergo technology has been proven safe in a number of clinical studies. Side effects form treatments are usually
mild and temporary (local pain, burning sensation during urination, urgency
and frequency of urination), and frequently disappear within 48-72 hours after
treatment, without constitute any danger to the patient.
Patient follow-up
Following treatments for urinary bladder cancer, the patient
continues to undergo close monitoring with routine cystoscopies and tests as required. This is essential to identify any disease recurrence
as early as possible, Follow-up visits are very important, and patients must take care to comply with the recommended schedule.
1. Colombo R., et al: Comparative study of intravesical chemotherapy alone versus intravesical
thermo-chemotherapy for prophylaxis of recurrence of superficial transitional cell carcinoma
of the bladder. J Clin Oncol. 21:4270-4276;2003
2. pre-published data
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