Early Results Favorable For 5-day Radiation Treatment Of Early Stage Prostate Cancer

Fairfax, Va., March 16, 2009 – Preliminary results show that a shortened course
of radiation therapy for prostate cancer called stereotactic body radiation therapy
(SBRT) provides good PSA response for early-stageprostate cancer and has
the same side effects as other treatments, according to a March 15 study in the
International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal
of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Study authors caution
that further follow-up will be necessary to establish that SBRT is as effective in
the long term as other proven treatments.

Radiation therapy is an effective way to treat localized prostate cancer. Proven
successful treatments include brachytherapy (seed implants) where radiation
sources are placed directly into the prostate and external beam radiation therapy
where doctors give small daily doses of radiation to the prostate,
five days a week, for eight weeks to give enough radiation to kill the cancer
cells while sparing nearby healthy tissue.

source: ASTRO

Varian Medical Systems to Exhibit Cancer Treatment and X-ray Imaging Technologies at China Med Exhibition

BEIJING, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: VAR) will showcase the full spectrum of the company's cancer treatment and X-ray imaging products, including some made available for the first time in China, at the upcoming China Med 21st International Medical Instruments and Equipment Exhibition in Beijing from March 19-21.

Varian will exhibit:

* The Clinac iX medical linear accelerator, a radiation therapy machine that was introduced into China last year. This treatment machine incorporates a three-dimensional X-ray imager to improve tumor targeting. It can also be upgraded to deliver RapidArc(TM) radiotherapy, which enables doctors to deliver highly-precise image-guided radiotherapy treatments two to eight times faster than was previously possible.
* Varian's market-leading medical software products, including Eclipse(TM) radiotherapy treatment planning software and ARIA(R) cancer treatment management software.
* The GammaMedplus(TM) afterloader, a machine for delivering brachytherapy, which is a way of treating cancer by placing tiny radiation sources directly into a targeted tumor.

source: Varian

Early Results Favorable For Five-Day Radiation Treatment Of Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

Preliminary results show that a shortened course of radiation therapy for prostate cancer called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) provides good PSA response for early-stage prostate cancer and has the same side effects as other treatments, according to a March 15 study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Study authors caution that further follow-up will be necessary to establish that SBRT is as effective in the long term as other proven treatments.

Radiation therapy is an effective way to treat localized prostate cancer. Proven successful treatments include brachytherapy (seed implants) where radiation sources are placed directly into the prostate and external beam radiation therapy where doctors give small daily doses of radiation to the prostate, five days a week, for eight weeks to give enough radiation to kill the cancer cells while sparing nearby healthy tissue.

source: ASTRO

ASTRO's Patient Education Program Wins National Award

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has been selected as one of only 21 organizations nationwide to receive an Award of Excellence in the first round of the 2009 Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards, which is a national competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership in Washington.

ASTRO's patient outreach program was honored with an AAA Award for its efforts to help cancer patients understand the complexity of radiation therapy treatment and is now in the running to receive a Summit Award, which is ASAE and the Center's top recognition for association programs.

"ASTRO is very committed to helping patients better understand how radiation therapy works and to giving our members the tools to explain this complex, yet very effective treatment to their patients in an easy to understand way," Laura I. Thevenot, ASTRO CEO, said. "We are extremely proud to be recognized by ASAE with an AAA Award for our hard work in helping cancer patients decipher their treatment options."

source: American Society for Radiation Oncology

New treatment for prostate cancer allows greater precision in targeting radiation

SYRACUSE, N.Y.— University Hospital of SUNY Upstate Medical University is first hospital in the region to offer the a new treatment for prostate cancer that allows clinicians to accurately manage the delivery of radiation to prostate cancer tumors. Also referred to as “GPS for the Body,” the Calypso 4D Localization System provides for the delivery of precision‑guided radiation therapy to the prostate with continuous, objective, organ‑motion detection and monitoring.

According to Jeffrey Bogart, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at SUNY Upstate, organ motion, which naturally occurs as a result of normal body physiology—such as the bladder filling—may cause the prostate to move slightly, potentially compromising the precise delivery of radiation during treatment.

“The Calypso system enables physicians to detect the slightest tumor movement in real‑time so accurate radiation therapy can be delivered while reducing the risk of damage to healthy surrounding organs and tissues, which can lead to common side effects such as bladder irritation and changes in bowel function,” Bogart said.

source: SUNY Upstate Medical University

ASTRO Applauds President Obama's Health Priorities

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) applauds President Obama's healthcare reform priorities set forth in his February 26, 2009, budget blueprint, particularly the President's promise to double funding for cancer research and close loopholes that are weakening the Medicare program.

Remarkable breakthroughs in cancer research and medical technology continue to make radiation therapy an effective, less-invasive cancer treatment option. Because radiation therapy is not invasive and has relatively minimal side effects, patients receiving radiation therapy often can maintain normal family lifestyles and continue to work.

The economic downturn and a strained healthcare system are forcing an increasing number of cancer patients, both insured and uninsured, to make heartbreaking decisions to delay or forgo necessary radiation treatments. Radiation oncologists are deeply troubled by this dire situation facing their patients and are committed to help move forward needed healthcare reform.

source ASTRO

Next Generation Proton Therapy System for Cancer Treatment Set for Release This Year

LITTLETON, Mass., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Still River Systems announced today the successful operation of the world's highest field, high energy cyclotron magnet. Still River's magnet is the key technical element for reducing the size and cost of the particle accelerator that will deliver proton therapy at a number of hospitals beginning with the first installation at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri this fall.

"The last six months have been very exciting," said Marc Buntaine, CEO. "Still River has achieved all of the component milestones that bring us to system integration and delivery." Proton therapy, widely regarded as the next evolutionary step in the radiation treatment of cancer, has seen unprecedented interest from the radiation oncology and patient communities in recent years. However, the large size and high cost of existing proton therapy systems have made it difficult for the average hospital to add this powerful tool to their cancer fighting arsenal.

The heart of the Monarch250, a superconducting magnet developed in an industrial and academic partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has now tested operational and stable at its full design current "This magnet sets a record for magnetic field strength used in a high energy cyclotron. The cyclotron built around this magnet will be the most compact source for proton therapy available today." said Dr. Kenneth Gall, founder and Chief Technology Officer.

source: PR Newswire

Radiation Therapy Equipment Vendors To Test System Integration

The American Society for Radiation Oncology will host a connectathon at its headquarters in Fairfax, Va., this September as part of the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise - Radiation Oncology (IHE-RO) initiative to promote seamless connectivity and integration of radiotherapy equipment and patient health information systems. The goal of this multi-year project is to reduce medical errors and improve efficiency by allowing physicians to purchase the best equipment for their practices, regardless of the manufacturer. This connectathon will be the final step in a process that has included vendor development, software testing and real-time interconnectivity testing.

"ASTRO is honored to be a leader of such a critical initiative as the IHE project," said Laura I. Thevenot, ASTRO's chief executive officer. "By ensuring that vendors meet the IHE-RO integration requirements, we are enabling radiation oncology teams to better implement the advanced technology available to them and better communicate vital information to the men and women undergoing treatment for cancer. I congratulate all the vendors participating in this initiative that I believe will help lead to more seamless patient care."

source: Medical News Today

New Proton Therapy Equipment Enables More Tumors to be Treated

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- An advance in the way protons are delivered at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute enables physicians to treat tumors that are deeper in the body, tumors that are very large and tumors that are situated closer to vital organs.

Called uniform scanning, the new device moves a single beam of protons in a sweeping or "scanning" motion, enabling the beam to reach deeper into the body and to cover a wider treatment area than the more commonly used scattering method. Until now the proton beam was "scattered" and flattened using round filters that limited how deep and how wide protons could travel into the body.

Proton therapy will now be a possible treatment option for prostate cancer patients with a hip circumference of more than 50 inches and for sarcoma patients with tumors larger than 9.4 inches. Uniform scanning also means significant medical advantages for patients with tumors in the head and neck, brain or spinal column since it can cover the target area more efficiently than the scattering method.

source: PR Newswire

Varian Medical Systems Has Received CE Mark for Proton Therapy System

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical Systems today announced that it has received CE mark for the Varian Proton Therapy System, which is designed to help doctors to improve treatments and outcomes in many cancer cases. With proton therapy, doctors can use higher doses of radiation to control and manage tumors while significantly reducing damage to healthy tissue and vital organs.

"CE mark is an important milestone in Varian's initiative to develop and market a compact system capable of intensity-modulated proton therapy in single- or multi-room facilities," said Lester Boeh, vice president of emerging businesses for the company. "This is a clear demonstration of our ongoing commitment to provide the cancer treatment community and its patients with a clinically practical and commercially viable proton therapy system that meets accepted safety standards for medical equipment."

source: Varian