LONDON, February 17 /PRNewswire/ --

Cancer may well surpass cardiovascular diseases as the primary case of death in Europe by 2012. To prevent this from happening, cancer therapeutics have to shift in focus from the treatment of symptoms to offering a total cure, despite the complex, multifactorial nature of cancer indications.

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As cancer spreads rapidly through Europe, therapy developers are looking to improve the cancer treatment profile through technological advances in diagnosis and treatment, says an analyst from Frost Sullivan (http://www.medicaldevices.frost.com). Innovative approaches to cancer therapy will help address unmet medical needs as well as enable the prognosis of cancer indications.

Several cancer indications such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are associated with very high mortality rates. This shows that intense technological improvements are needed to enhance the prognosis and treatment of major cancer indications.

Treatment developers should aim to keep pace with the growing demand for therapies that can improve patients' quality of life.

Treatments with fewer side effects and that can reduce hospital stays are preferred over radical procedures such as surgery, wherever feasible, the analyst notes. An increasing demand for minimally invasive or non-invasive alternatives to existing treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery is driving the growth of radiation therapy -- particularly in developed countries.

The trend toward multimodality deals, along with digitisation and price erosion are expected to drive consolidation in the cancer therapy market. The healthcare market in Europe is cost constrained and the purse strings are likely to tighten further with governments planning to implement several cost-containment measures.

Budgets for hospitals are being reduced, leading to an increase in tendering arrangements between hospitals and companies, to reduce prices, observes the analyst. This could result in the reluctance of physicians to use adjuvant therapy or prescribe more expensive therapies, which do not offer significant survival benefits.

While these policies compel companies to keep their prices low, extensive publicity about cancer mortality rates has ensured that there is adequate focus on cancer research. Many public research organisations and associations have been contributing substantially towards cancer treatment research programmes, keeping the market buoyant.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the issues; trends and prevalence in the European non-pharmaceutical cancer therapy market, then send an e-mail to Katja Feick, Corporate Communications, at katja.feick@frost.com. Please include your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

Issues; Trends and Prevalence in the European Cancer Therapy Market - Non Pharmaceutical is part of the Medical Devices Growth Partnership Service programme, which also includes research in the following markets: European urinary incontinence devices market, European tissue sealants and topical haemostats market, European bone growth and spinal fusion stimulators market and issues and trends in hospital-based infections across Europe. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost Sullivan has expanded its flagship Global Congress on Corporate Growth -- GIL Global -- into several major cities around the world including London. For the first time ever in Europe, Frost Sullivan will be hosting the Growth, Innovation and Leadership Congress 'GIL 2009: Europe' on 19-20 May, at the Sofitel St James in London. GIL Global is the industry's only event designed to support senior executives in their efforts to achieve sustainable, top-line growth. To register, obtain a programme agenda, explore sponsorship opportunities, or attend as a member of the media for GIL 2009: Europe, please contact Katja Feick, Corporate Communications Europe, at katja.feick@frost.com. One-on-One interviews with Frost Sullivan senior growth consultants are also being scheduled. For more information you can also visit http://www.frost.com/giluk

Frost Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership(TM) empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost Sullivan's Growth Partnership Services, visit http://www.frost.com.

Issues; Trends and Prevalence in the European Cancer Therapy Market - Non Pharmaceutical (M2CC) Contact: Katja Feick Corporate Communications - Europe P: +49-(0)-69-77-0-33-43 E: katja.feick@frost.com http://www.frost.com

Katja Feick, Frost Sullivan Corporate Communications - Europe, +49-(0)-69-77-0-33-43, katja.feick@frost.com /Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO