15-Year Study of More Than 5,000 Patients Reveals Key Factors in Predicting Outcomes for Prostate Cancer Recurrence Following Permanent Prostate Brachytherapy.

Isotope Selection a Significant Factor; Palladium Outperformed Iodine

ATLANTA -- Results of a groundbreaking national study from leading prostate cancer researchers associated with the New York Prostate Institute, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, the University of California at San Francisco and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center revealed that key factors can predict outcomes for prostate cancer recurrence following permanent prostate brachytherapy. The study of 5,889 patients over the course of 15 years is one of the largest conducted on prostate cancer treatment outcomes and found that formula and isotope make a significant difference on future prognosis of prostate cancer patients.

Dr. Louis Potters of the New York Prostate Institute presented the findings at the recent 48th American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncologists (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. "Based on the experience of the multi-institutional team of physicians who tested the patients and generated the data presented, there was a more positive outcome for patients that were treated with palladium over iodine," said Dr. Potters. "The research results are compelling in that it provides a platform by which the medical community can distinguish how we prescribe brachytherapy based on a patient's underlying risk."

The study was designed to update previous prostate cancer research published four years ago that established a nomogram, or predictive model, for assessing a patient's risk based on underlying disease characteristics, such as Gleason score and PSA level. "The updated data predicts patient outcomes nine years out, as opposed to five years out in the previous study," said Potters. "This information is highly valuable to our younger prostate cancer patients, ages 60 to 65, who might otherwise be steered towards surgery as a treatment option based on their age."

Brachytherapy is a form of radiation therapy in which seeds or pellets, which emit radiation, are implanted in a one-time procedure to kill surrounding tissue of the prostate including prostate cancer cells. Brachytherapy allows the radioactive ingredient to deliver a highly concentrated, yet confined dose of radiation directly to surrounding cells, minimizing exposure to nearby healthy tissue and organs.

Theragenics Corporation manufactures the palladium-103 TheraSeed([R]) device used in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The Company is the world's largest producer of palladium-103 for human use. Christine Jacobs, CEO and President of Theragenics Corporation said, "Men who are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer have a difficult decision to make regarding their treatment, as there are many options for them to consider. Most recently their task has been particularly difficult as therapies with little proven track record have been touted as better. Studies like these can help men make informed decisions based on data and long-term outcomes."

Researchers who contributed to the study include:

Richard Stock, M.D. of the Mount Sinai Medical Center

Brian Davis, M.D., Ph.D. of the Mayo Clinic

Michael Zelefsky, M.D. of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 

Mack Roach, M.D. of the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine

Nelson Stone, M.D. of the Mount Sinai Medical Center

Michael Kattan, Ph.D. of the Cleveland Clinic

P.A. Fearn of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

About Theragenics([R])

Theragenics Corporation (NYSE: TGX) operates two business segments: its brachytherapy seed business and its surgical products business. The brachytherapy business manufactures and markets its premiere product, the palladium-103 TheraSeed([R]) device and I-Seed, an iodine-125 based device, which are used primarily in the minimally invasive treatment of localized prostate cancer. Its surgical products business manufactures and distributes wound closure, needles and other surgical products used in the urology, veterinary, orthopedic and other markets through its CP Medical subsidiary, and disposable medical devices used for vascular access through its Galt Medical Corp. subsidiary. For additional information, call Theragenics' Investor Relations Department at [phone] or visit www.theragenics.com.

This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, statements regarding physician acceptance of brachytherapy with palladium-103. Actual results may be affected by, among other things, patient and physician acceptance of brachytherapy, the results of future clinical studies related to the treatment of prostate cancer, the potential for new or improved treatments for prostate cancer, other positive or negative developments regarding treatments for prostate cancer going forward, and other factors set forth from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

All forward looking statements and cautionary statements included in this document are made as of the date hereby based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward looking statement or cautionary statement.