University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center First in Ohio to Offer High-Tech Proton Therapy with Optical Motion Management

30 January 2016. University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Vision RT announce the installation of AlignRT® for Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) in their new, state-of-the-art proton beam treatment facility. When installation is complete, the Cleveland-based proton therapy center will be the first to offer this highly specialized guidance technology for a MEVION proton machine in the USA.

UH Seidman Cancer Center’s Proton Therapy Center, scheduled to open this summer, will be the first of its kind in Ohio. Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that targets tumors precisely while sparing healthy surrounding tissue. The MEVION S250™ being installed at UH Seidman Cancer Center is a unique single room system that is significantly smaller and more economical while delivering the same powerful cancer-fighting radiation therapy as traditional systems.

The AlignRT® system is an SGRT system that supports the high precision delivery of proton beams by monitoring the patient in real time before and during treatment. The system addresses the challenges of patient positioning and motion during radiation therapy.

AlignRT® has been chosen by 37 of the 50 U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals for Cancer 2015-16” for their setup and real-time motion tracking needs, as well as 10 proton centers worldwide.

“For success with such an advanced technology, it is vital that we track the patient motion in real-time with a high degree of accuracy,” says Barry Wessels, PhD, Director of Physics and Dosimetry at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. “We examined the best fit for our specific needs in proton therapy, looking at what would provide the most reliable, accurate and effective patient care. AlignRT® was an effective solution for us and we very much look forward to using the system.”

“The rationale of using both proton beam and AlignRT® is compelling,” says David Mansur, MD, Vice-Chair for Proton Therapy at UH Seidman Cancer Center. “In combination, they offer the potential to deliver vital therapy in a way that reduces radiation dose to healthy tissue. This could lead to both short-term and long-term benefits for patients, even beyond the initial treatment of their cancer.”

The addition of the MEVION S250™ will complement UH Seidman Cancer Center’s existing state-of-the-art radiation oncology equipment and expertise and will benefit patients with many different types of cancer. Additionally, it provides a distinct advantage to pediatric patients and their families at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, eliminating the need to travel out of state for this technology which results in fewer long-term effects due to the precisely targeted therapy.

“Vision RT is delighted to be the solution of choice for such a well-regarded institution as UH Seidman Cancer Center,” comments Dr. Norman Smith, CEO of Vision RT. “There are over 50 scientific publications demonstrating the clinical efficacy of Vision RT’s products at numerous clinical sites across the USA, and this is another endorsement of our products becoming the established standard of care in radiation therapy.”

About University Hospitals

Founded in May 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 18 hospitals, more than 40 outpatient health centers and primary care physician offices in 15 countries thorughout Northeast Ohio. At the core of their $4 billion health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center, ranked among America’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, UH Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, including cancer, pediatrics, women’s health, orthopedics, radiology, neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, digestive health, transplantation and genetics. Its main campus includes UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, Ohio’s only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University. UH is the second largest employer in Northeast Ohio with 26,000 employees. For more information, go to www.UHhospitals.org.