Varian Medical Systems Adds High Dose Delivery and Prone Breast Treatment Capabilities to Clinac® and Trilogy® Cancer Treatment Machines

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinac® and Trilogy® medical linear accelerators from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR), machines that are used to treat cancer with targeted radiotherapy, have been updated to deliver higher doses up to two times faster than was previously possible. They can now also better facilitate treating breast cancer patients on their stomachs (in the prone position) rather than their backs—an approach that can reduce the volume of lung and heart tissue exposed to radiation during treatment. Updated control software, which received 510(k) clearance in November from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), adds a High Intensity Mode to the Clinac and Trilogy machines, enabling dose delivery rates of up to 2400 monitor units per minute—double their former highest output.

"Our High Intensity Mode makes it possible to deliver some treatments up to 50 percent faster than is possible without it," said Chris Toth, senior director of marketing for Varian's Oncology Systems business. "We're seeing trends toward the use of hypo-fractionation and radiosurgical approaches for many types of cancer, which means that higher doses are delivered in just one or a few treatment sessions for quick ablation of a tumor. There has been encouraging research supporting this approach for the treatment of cancers of the brain[1], spine[2], and lung[3], as well as for prostate cancer.[4] With High Intensity Mode, our Clinac and Trilogy machines can deliver these high dose treatments within a clinically-feasible timeframe."

Varian also received FDA clearance for the Pivotal™ Care Solution for Prone Breast Treatment, an innovation that allows patients to be treated on their stomachs rather than their backs. Recent studies have shown that, for many women without axillary lymph node disease, treatment in the prone position can be used to significantly reduce the volume of lung and heart tissue exposed to the treatment beam.

source: Varian

Accuray Receives Outstanding Innovative Improvement Award for its CyberKnife System

SUNNYVALE, Calif., November 30, 2011 - Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), the premier radiation oncology company, today announced that the company received the Outstanding Innovative Improvement Award for its CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System at the 3rd Annual Employer Healthcare Congress, which took place October 25 - 28, 2011 in Chicago.

The award was presented to Accuray in recognition of the fact that patients treated with the CyberKnife System are able to complete treatment in five days or less, compared to radiation therapy treatments, which typically require up to 40 treatment sessions. This significant reduction in the number of daily treatments helps patients get back to work faster, benefitting employees and employers alike. The CyberKnife System targets tumors anywhere in the body and delivers high doses of radiation with pinpoint accuracy. Unlike any other radiation delivery system, the CyberKnife System tracks and adjusts treatment delivery to compensate for tumor motion, including respiration.

"Treatment with the CyberKnife System is typically completed in five or fewer outpatient sessions, compared to the six weeks of daily treatments typical with conventional radiation. Fewer daily treatments allow the employee to get back to their normal schedule, including work, resulting in less stress for the employee and a more efficient workplace for the employer," said Jonathan Edelheit, president of the Employer Healthcare Congress. "Accuray has made a tremendous effort to ensure that employees are aware of the full range of options so they can make an informed treatment decision. We wanted to recognize Accuray’s innovative technology, as well as its education efforts with this award."Accuray Receives Outstanding Innovative Improvement Award for its CyberKnife System

source: Accuray

Clinicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System First in World to Use "Triggered Imaging" Technology From Varian Medical Systems

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System became the first medical center in the world last week to utilize intrafraction motion review (IMR), or "triggered imaging," to continually monitor tumor location during radiosurgery for lung cancer. IMR, which is a unique capability of the TrueBeam™ linear accelerator from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) enables visual verification that a tumor is being properly targeted.

"With triggered imaging, clinicians use the imager on the TrueBeam system to observe the targeted tumor repeatedly, at a predetermined portion of the respiratory cycle, in order to check on the tumor's location and trajectory," said Chris Toth, senior director of marketing at Varian. "If the tumor is not where it is supposed to be, they can halt treatment and intervene to enhance the accuracy of the targeting."

Doctors at UAB used the IMR tool for the first time earlier this month when delivering a Gated RapidArc radiosurgery treatment for inoperable early-stage lung cancer. RapidArc enables fast, precise image-guided IMRT (intensity-modulated radiotherapy) by delivering dose continuously as the treatment machine rotates around the patient. Gated RapidArc makes it possible to monitor patient breathing and compensate for tumor motion during a RapidArc treatment. The Gating system turns the treatment beam on and off in synchrony with the patient's breathing to increase treatment precision. With IMR, or "triggered imaging," the gating system also triggers the imager to generate a low-dose X-ray of the targeted tumor at a specific point in the patient's respiratory cycle.

source: Varian Medical Systems

IsoRay Ships First GliaSite(R) Brain Cancer Treatment

RICHLAND, Wash., Nov 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- IsoRay, Inc. ISR -4.28% announced today it has shipped its first GliaSite(R) radiation therapy system. The Company initiated sales after receiving final approval this week from the State of Washington Department of Health to manufacture its GliaSite(R) radiation therapy system. The GliaSite(R) radiation therapy system is a balloon catheter device used in the treatment of brain cancer. Having already received FDA clearance, the Washington State regulatory approval opened the door for sales of IsoRay's GliaSite(R) brain cancer treatment in the United States.

IsoRay CEO Dwight Babcock says inquiries are on the rise, "News of final regulatory approval has generated a great deal of interest throughout the medical community in the U.S. and internationally. We are hearing from physicians as well as brain cancer patients who are seeking treatment options for Glioblastomas and metastasized brain cancers."

The GliaSite(R) radiation system offers an innovative alternative that presents an important advance over previous brain cancer treatments. Doctors are able to use the system to directly place a specified dosage of liquid radiation in areas where cancer is most likely to still remain after completion of brain tumor removal. The ability to precisely place a specified dosage of this form of radiation means there is less likelihood for damage to occur to healthy brain tissue compared to other alternative treatments. Importantly, the GliaSite(R) radiation treatment diminishes the ability of the tumor to recur which means important benefits for patients in longevity as well as quality of life.

source: Isoray

Prostate Cancer Study Shows Radiation Plus Hormone Therapy Greatly Improves Survival for Men with High-Risk Disease

Newswise — (Toronto – Nov. 3, 2011) – Men with locally advanced or high-risk prostate cancer who receive combined radiation and hormone therapy live longer and are less likely to die from their disease, shows clinical research led by radiation oncologists at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Cancer Program, University Health Network.

The findings are published online today in The Lancet (doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61095-7). Principal investigator Padraig Warde, deputy head, PMH radiation medicine program, says: “The study shows combining radiation and hormone therapy improves overall survival by 23 percent and disease-specific survival by 43 percent, compared with treating with hormone therapy alone.

“Based on these results, we believe adding radiation to the treatment plan should become part of the standard therapy.” Dr. Warde is also a Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and between 15% and 25% percent of cases are high risk, says Dr. Warde. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates 25,500 new cases will be diagnosed this year and that 4,100 men will die from the disease.

source: NewsWise

iCAD Announces Recent Adoption of Its Xoft Electronic Brachytherapy System by Leading U. S. Hospitals

NASHUA, N.H., Nov 09, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- iCAD, Inc. ICAD -1.59% , an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapies for the early identification and treatment of cancer, today announced that its Xoft Axxent(R) eBx(TM) electronic brachytherapy system for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) has been recently adopted at leading hospitals across the country. Facilities that have chosen the Xoft Axxent eBx System for IORT include Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology (Pleasant Hill, Calif.), Exeter Hospital (Exeter, N.H.), Memorial Hospital Chattanooga (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Florida Hospital Tampa (Tampa, Fla.), Rockford Memorial Hospital (Rockford, Ill.), Rose Medical Center (Denver, Colo.) and Vanderbilt Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.)

"The recent adoption of the Axxent eBx System is an increasing endorsement of electronic brachytherapy and IORT as a safe and effective method of radiation treatment," said Ken Ferry, President and CEO of iCAD. "The growing demand for IORT offers patients expanded access to potentially lifesaving radiation therapy for their cancer treatment and an alternative to long-term radiation therapy."

IORT enables doctors to administer a high dose of radiation to the tumor bed during a lumpectomy, which reduces or eliminates the need for follow-up radiation treatments and also minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissue and organs, such as the ribs, lungs, heart and opposite breast. The current standard of care for early stage breast cancer consists of lumpectomy, medical therapy, and a five to seven week course of daily Whole Breast External Beam Radiation Therapy (WBEBRT) delivered by linear accelerators inside a heavily shielded room. With IORT, a single dose of intraoperative radiation may be as effective in treating the tumor as 10--20 daily radiation doses.(1)

source: Business Wire

Accuray Receives 510(k) Clearance for a Rotational Dose Control for the TomoTherapy System

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — October 25, 2011 — Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), the premier radiation oncology company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company 510(k) clearance to market the Dose Control System (DCS), a new feature for Accuray’s TomoTherapy® System that improves system performance.

The TomoTherapy System revolutionized radiation therapy with the introduction of helical delivery, providing precise application of dose to target structures while sparing healthy tissue. With the advent of the Dose Control System the TomoTherapy System again breaks new ground as the first dose servo-controlled helical delivery system (patent pending). This approach provides even higher precision with unprecedented dose stability throughout complex rotational treatments. Static delivery provided by the TomoDirectTM option also benefits from a more stable and consistent dose rate at every gantry angle.

The new DCS feature provides these gains by automatically adjusting controls previously handled through a manual process. This means small variations in dose rate are immediately corrected by the system, resulting in fewer interruptions. The DCS application also ensures a more stable output over longer duration treatments, such as Total Marrow and Total Body Irradiation. The result of this new product feature is higher customer satisfaction, a better patient experience, and improved overall system performance.

source: Accuray

New Release of Elekta's Monaco Treatment Planning System Prepares Software for Stereotactic Radiation Therapy

ATLANTA, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Among the many new features of Monaco® 3.0, Dynamic Conformal Arc (DCA) Therapy provides clinicians with a simple way to deliver highly conformal stereotactic plans by using the multi-leaf collimator (MLC) to dynamically conform around a target as the treatment beam rotates around the patient. DCA recently received 510(k) clearance for Monaco from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"DCA can be used to render more conformal plans by creating multiple arcs in a non-coplanar fashion – in such a way that the geometry of each arc minimizes the dose to the adjacent organs during the gantry rotation," says Todd Powell, Executive Vice President, Elekta Software. "When this technique is used in conjunction with micro-MLCs – such as the new Apex™* MLC, which is now supported in Monaco 3.0 – it can yield very conformal plans and is much easier in terms of quality assurance measurements."

DCA is particularly well-suited for stereotactic treatments because it eliminates the need to modulate the typically higher doses per fraction in stereotactic therapy. DCA's benefit, therefore, is fewer monitor units and reduced treatment time compared with other delivery methods.

"With DCA, clinicians have the option to obtain a comparably conformal plan with approximately half the treatment time and reduced scatter dose," Powell adds.

source: PR Newswire

85 Percent of CyberKnife® Sites Within Europe Performing Prostate Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that 85 percent of European CyberKnife® centers are performing prostate SBRT to treat localized prostate cancer. There is an increasing trend towards treating prostate cancer patients with a hypofractionated regimen.

"More than 25 percent of our CyberKnife patients are being treated for prostate cancer with further growth anticipated," said Dr David Feltl, Head of the Oncology department, Ostrava University Hospital, Ostrava, Czech Republic.

At the Annual Congress of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) in London, UK this growth was supported by strong clinical evidence presented at a symposium focused on prostate cancer co-chaired by Prof. Eric Lartigau, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France, and Prof. Volker Budach, M.D., Ph.D., Charite – Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany.

"Offering CyberKnife non-invasive treatments to our patients provides excellent 5-year tumor control and very low level of toxicity as recently published in Radiation Oncology 2011," said Prof. Eric Lartigau.

"There is a strong academic interest to further drive prospective randomized clinical evidence for prostate SBRT with the CyberKnife System leading the clinical trend," said Prof. Volker Budach.

"The long term efficacy and toxicity outcomes of single and multi-center studies are supported by many key publications and presentations on CyberKnife prostate SBRT. Supported by an increasing foundation of solid clinical evidence we have seen a 20 percent increase in worldwide prostate cancer treatment as compared to a similar period last year," said Omar Dawood, vice president, Medical Affairs, Accuray Incorporated.

source: PR Newswire

Mirada Medical develops radiation therapy workflows for multidisciplinary cancer management

Oxford, UK, Philadelphia, PA, 3rd May 2011: Bridging radiology and radiation oncology, innovative RT workflows developed by Mirada Medical Limited are the latest in Mirada's portfolio of oncology products on display at the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) Anniversary Conference, London UK 8th-11th May 2011.

New RT workflows in XD3, Mirada's multi-modality and multi-timepoint oncology software, harness the power of CT-CT registration between the planning CT and PET/CT to provide functional imaging information for target delineation with accuracy and speed. XD3's registration engine also performs tri-modal fusion between PET/CT and MR in order to immediately realise the benefits of PET-MR for treatment planning, without having a PET-MR scanner. This software-based PET-MR presents powerful information during tumour assessment, staging, and delineation, with better visualisation of soft tissue abnormalities and tumours best localised using MR, such as lymph nodes in the neck.

Central to XD3 is the ability to assess, quantify and compare patient studies across unlimited timepoints, in custom display layouts, simultaneously. Through registration, users can easily propagate VOIs across timepoints, creating tables and graphs which track quantification statistics for comparison and reporting. Statistics are configurable for each user and include PERCIST, RECIST, WHO, among others.

source: Mirada Medical