UH Seidman Cancer Center to become one of elite group of cancer centers to offer proton therapy

University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center is breaking ground today on a $30 million proton therapy center, becoming one of an elite group of cancer centers in the country to offer this revolutionary technology. There are currently only 11 operational proton therapy centers in the nation and the UH Seidman Cancer Center site will be the first in Ohio.

Proton therapy is an advanced type of radiation treatment that uses a powerful beam of protons to precisely target a tumor and at the same time reduce radiation to uninvolved tissues. Traditional radiation therapy uses photon beams, which are highly effective for a broad variety of cancers. However, in some cases, proton beams offer enhanced abilities to deliver radiation doses while selectively sparing healthy tissue. Most notably the use of protons is beneficial for the treatment of some cancers in children and young adults, who are more prone to short and long-term complications from radiation.

"There are several benefits to the delivery of radiation treatment with protons rather than photons for certain types of cancer, and we believe that this represents the next important advancement in radiation therapy. We are very excited to bring this leading-edge technology to Ohio," says Nathan Levitan, MD, President, UH Seidman Cancer Center. "We have made this $30 million investment in keeping with our commitment to bring the most advanced cancer-fighting treatments and technology to our community and to the country as a national leader in cancer care."

Scheduled to open to patients in 2015, the Proton Therapy Center will be housed in an 11,000-square-foot facility on the UH Case Medical Center campus. The technology will be used primarily for pediatric cancer patients as well as patients with certain brain and spine malignancies. The utility of this new therapy is being studied in a variety of other cancer types as well.

UH signed an agreement in 2011 with Mevion Medical Systems (formerly Still River Systems) to purchase the MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System, the next generation of proton therapy technology. While the first generation of proton beam systems require massive equipment, large facilities and cost up to $150 million to implement, scientific breakthroughs by Mevion have led to the development of this first-of-its-kind more compact and less costly model. The MEVION S250 received FDA approval in June 2012.

"Proton beams have unique physical properties that allow reduced doses of radiation to uninvolved normal tissue," says David Mansur, MD, Director of the Proton Therapy Center. "They are the ultimate means of reaching certain tumors, especially those in pediatric cancer patients whose bodies are still growing. Children are more susceptible to the long-term adverse affects of radiation therapy and the use of proton beam therapy should help reduce these risks. One of the most exciting aspects of our new proton center is its proximity to UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital which will allow easy access for our pediatric patients and families. Most proton therapy centers are located many miles away from the nearest children's hospital. Clinical research trials studying the best means of using protons are in development, and we will be among the leaders in research studies of proton beam radiotherapy."

The technology will complement UH Seidman Cancer Center's existing, state-of-the-art photon-beam based radiation therapy services, which include Synergy-S Hexapod, Cyberknife, TomoTherapy and Perfexion Gamma Knife.  UH is one of the only cancer centers in the country to offer such a broad range of advanced photon-based radiation technology under one roof.

"With the addition of a proton beam facility, we will be able to offer a full array of the latest in cutting edge radiotherapy," says Mitch Machtay, MD, Chairman of Radiation Oncology at UH Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "This technology will be a great complement to our existing state-of-the-art radiation oncology equipment and personnel at Seidman, and more importantly, the lives of many people with cancer and their families will be ultimately enhanced by this investment."

Protons enter the body with a low radiation dose and deposit the bulk of their cancer-fighting energy right at the tumor. The proton beam then effectively stops at the 'back edge' of the tumor, matching the tumor's shape, volume and depth. Once this energy has been deposited at the tumor site, there is little additional radiation exposure or damage to the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. This can allow a high dose of radiation to be delivered directly to the cancerous cells while sparing healthy tissues and critical areas of the body near the tumor, potentially resulting in more reliable control of the tumor with fewer treatment complications.

"Building a proton therapy center is a huge boon for our patients as well as this entire region," says Stan Gerson, MD, Director of the UH Seidman Cancer Center and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Our cancer hospital brings a wealth of diagnostic and treatment technologies under one roof to provide the nation's most advanced cancer care and this new proton therapy center is the next tool in our arsenal. This novel system with its compact nature will be fully integrated within the Seidman Cancer Center."