SAVI Brachytherapy for Breast Cancer Marks Three-Year Anniversary of First Treatment

Shorter, Easier Radiation Treatment Available to More Women
ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
This month marks three years since physicians began offering SAVI radiation
treatment as part of breast conservation therapy for early-stage breast cancer -
a major milestone in breast brachytherapy.

Leanna Elder became the first woman to receive accelerated partial breast
irradiation (APBI) with SAVI in November 2006.

"SAVI was fantastic. It reduced my treatment time substantially, and I was able
to do almost all of my normal activities during the five days of radiation,
including driving myself to and from my therapy appointments," said Elder, a
retired librarian in Arizona. "I`ve seen friends experience painful side effects
after undergoing whole breast radiation, so it was important to me to choose a
breast cancer radiation treatment that spared as much healthy tissue as
possible."

Robert Kuske, M.D., a radiation oncologist at Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists,
was the first physician to deliver treatment with SAVI, in November 2006.

"SAVI has become an important radiation therapy tool in the management of our
breast cancer patients, because it allows us to offer this accelerated treatment
to more women," said Dr. Kuske.

By using a more precisely targeted dose of radiation, SAVI treats the tissue
surrounding the lumpectomy cavity while minimizing the exposure of healthy
tissue to radiation. Instead of the six weeks of treatment required with
traditional whole breast radiation, treatment with the SAVI applicator lasts
just five days.

Over the past three years, the effectiveness of the SAVI applicator has been
documented in more than a dozen clinical studies, most recently in a
peer-reviewed paper published by University of California, San Diego researchers
in the journal Brachytherapy.

Researchers continually report outstanding results with the device, especially
compared to other breast brachytherapy applicators. Studies show that SAVI
provides excellent cosmetic results; fewer side effects and complications; and
better dose control and protection of healthy tissue.

In particular, SAVI has demonstrated excellent coverage of the tumor bed while
keeping dose to normal structures exceedingly low. Persistent seroma and
infection rates remain well below the average rates for balloon brachytherapy.

The device`s ability to deliver targeted radiation based on patient-specific
anatomy has expanded the number of women who can benefit from breast
brachytherapy, according to research.

"Our mission is to advance breast cancer treatment through innovation. We are
proud that our technology gives patients and physicians more options to address
a disease that impacts one out of every eight women in the United States each
year," said Jill Anderson, CEO of Cianna Medical, the company that manufactures
SAVI. "The increasing adoption of SAVI is a testament to the experience,
commitment and passion of the Cianna Medical team, each of whom is dedicated to
improving women`s health by making five-day radiation therapy available to more
patients than ever before."

About Cianna Medical, Inc.

Cianna Medical, Inc. is focused on women's health and dedicated to the
innovative treatment of early-stage breast cancer. The company manufactures and
markets the SAVI breast brachytherapy applicator, for the delivery of breast
cancer radiation after lumpectomy surgery. The SAVI applicator allows sculpting
of the radiation dose, and is designed to make the benefits of accelerated
partial breast irradiation available to a greater number of women. For more
information about the company, call (toll-free) 866-920-9444 or visit
www.CiannaMedical.com.

Dowling & Dennis Public Relations
Liz Dowling, 760-942-2544
Liz@DowlingDennis.net

Copyright Business Wire 2009