John Theurer Cancer Center to acquire TrueBeam system for treating cancer patients

TrueBeam technology enables a radical new approach that expands radiotherapy treatment options for even the most challenging cases

In a promising development for cancer patients in New Jersey and surrounding areas, the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center announced today that it will be the first cancer center in New Jersey to acquire an innovative system that enables a radically different approach to treating cancer with image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) known as the TrueBeam- system. The new radiotherapy system was delivered on June 26 and will be operational when the new $130-million comprehensive cancer facility opens in January 2011, further enhancing the John Theurer Cancer Center's treatment capabilities.

"TrueBeam is a real game-changer that will enable us to treat even the most challenging cases with unprecedented speed and accuracy," said Anthony Ingenito, M.D., Chairman, Radiation Oncology, the John Theurer Cancer Center. "We are excited to offer our patients radiation treatment that is even more precise for many different forms of cancers."

The TrueBeam system, from Varian Medical Systems, was engineered from the ground up to deliver more powerful cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy and precision. It uniquely integrates new imaging and motion management technologies within a sophisticated new architecture that makes it possible to deliver treatments faster while monitoring and compensating for tumor motion, opening the door to new possibilities for the treatment of lung, breast, prostate, head and neck, as well as other cancers that are treatable with radiotherapy.

This state-of-the-art radiotherapy system allows the John Theurer Cancer Center to offer even faster treatments, enhanced accuracy, and quicker imaging at lower doses.

• With dose delivery rates that are 40-140 percent higher than earlier generations of Varian technology, simple treatments that once took 15 minutes or more can be completed in less than two minutes once the patient is in position.
• "Intelligent" automation further speeds treatments with an up to five-fold reduction in the number of steps needed for image guidance and dose delivery.
• The precision is measured in increments of less than a millimeter. This accuracy is made possible by the system's sophisticated architecture, which synchronizes imaging, patient positioning, motion management, beam shaping, and dose delivery, performing accuracy checks every ten milliseconds throughout the entire treatment.
• For lung and other tumors subject to respiratory motion, this system makes it possible to monitor patient breathing and to compensate for tumor motion while quickly delivering a dose during a continuous rotation around the patient.
• This radiotherapy system will allow physicians to choose an imaging mode that minimizes the amount of X-rays needed to generate an image. The imaging technology can produce the three-dimensional images used to fine-tune tumor targeting in 60 percent less time and the additional functionality makes it possible to create images using 25 percent less X-ray dose.

Acquiring the TrueBeam system to enhance its services is another step in the John Theurer Cancer Center's ongoing commitment to improving radiation oncology treatments through research and offering the latest technological advancements. In addition to adopting TrueBeam, the radiation oncology division is continually active in clinical trials with research in other new approaches such as brachytherapy, Dose Verification System- (DVS), and TomoTherapy-.

"By integrating new therapies and providing extensive training to our expert staff, the John Theurer Cancer Center is able to deliver unparalleled radiation treatment," said Andrew Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.P.E., Chairman and Executive Administrative Director, the John Theurer Cancer Center. "Offering innovative treatment options is just one of the many ways we are fulfilling our mission to provide extraordinary patient care."