February 23, 2015
Enhanced Proton Technology Targets More Complex Tumors
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy, A ProCure Center leads the advancement of
proton therapy in cancer treatment with continued investments in technology
SEATTLE - Physicians treating patients with complex tumors will have more advanced
treatment options at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy, A ProCure Center. The
Center is revolutionizing the way proton therapy is used in cancer treatment and has recently
made a number of additional investments in innovative technology that will empower its care
teams to treat tumors more precisely. An advanced form of radiation treatment, proton therapy
delivers a targeted dose of radiation to kill cancer cells while sparing surrounding normal tissues.
Building on this treatment delivery, the Center will now offer Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) in its
state of the art gantry room. The combination of proton therapy with PBS technology enables
physicians to better shape and direct radiation to the tumor, opening the doors to treat a wider
variety of cancers.
“PBS is the most advanced way to deliver proton radiation and will allow us to sculpt protons for
treating more complex tumors, such as in the head and neck, lung, abdomen, and pelvic areas,”
said Smith ‘Jim’ Apisarnthanarax, MD, a radiation oncologist at SCCA Proton Therapy.
SCCA Proton Therapy has also recently become the first proton center to use an advanced breath
hold device that aids patients in their ability to control breathing during radiation treatment. The
Active Breathing Coordinator (ABC™) device may be used when treating tumors in the chest or
abdomen that move with breathing. The ABC™ device assists patients with systematically
holding their breath before or after they’ve breathed out. During this brief time, the ABC™
device makes the tumor a stationary target, allowing the treatment to be even more accurate,
sparing surrounding tissue. The ABC™ device’s ability to control breath both on inhale and
exhale allows physicians to treat a range of tumors.
In addition, UW Medicine physicians and SCCA Proton Therapy physicists are working together
to upgrade the process for developing PBS patient treatment plans with, RaySearch Laboratories‘
advanced treatment-planning and dose-tracking software platform, RayStation. The RayStation
system is built on the latest software architecture and has a graphic user interface for ease of use.
RayStation combines the capabilities of traditional imaging such as CTs, PETs, and MRIs, with
contouring and 4D compatibility. Unique features include multi-criteria optimization, dose
tracking, treatment adaptation, and near real time deformable image registration.
“Providing patients with the best treatment possible is our number one priority and we believe
investing in these advancements allows us to provide them with the highest levels of care,” said
Ramesh Rengan, MD, medical director at SCCA Proton Therapy. “These innovative
technologies will make treatments more effective for patients, while shortening the overall
treatment course for select cancers.”
The combination of these investments in technologies means that the Pacific Northwest will
continue to have access to important cancer treatment options. Pencil Beam Scanning, Active
Breathing Coordinator, and the RayStation System capabilities together allow SCCA Proton
Therapy radiation oncologists to use protons in a more precise way when to treating certain
tumors.
For more information on RaySearch Laboratories and the RayStation treatment planning system,
visit www.raysearchlabs.com.
For more information on SCCA Proton Therapy, visit www.sccaprotontherapy.com.
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About Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy, A ProCure Center
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy, A Procure Center is a cancer treatment center
that uses precisely targeted radiation to treat cancer while preserving surrounding healthy
tissue. Proton therapy is an advanced form of treatment that allows doctors to focus
radiation directly into the tumor, reducing the potential for side effects. Protons are
beneficial in treating a broad range of tumors, including those of the brain, central nervous
system, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, breast, lung, and prostate, as well as sarcomas
and certain pediatric cancers. A collaborative effort between Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
and ProCure Treatment Centers, SCCA Proton Therapy unites top physician experts in
cancer from UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital. SCCA Proton Therapy is located
on UW Medicine's Northwest Hospital & Medical Center campus and is the only proton
therapy center in a seven-state region. For more information about proton therapy, visit
www.SCCAprotontherapy.com or follow SCCA Proton Therapy on
Twitter @SCCAProtons and Facebook.
Media Contact:
Stephany Rochon
Nyhus Communications for SCCA Proton Therapy, A ProCure Center
206-323-3733
SCCAProtonTherapy@nyhus.com