SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This month
marks the 10-year anniversary of the first successful total marrow
irradiation (TMI) using the TomoTherapy® System. This
procedure was performed at City of Hope in Duarte, California. As a result of continuing
research and use of the system for TMI, numerous centers around the
world have adopted the approach, once considered to be impossible
because of limitations inherent to conventional radiation therapy
systems.
TMI is an advanced form of total body irradiation, which has
traditionally been an important part of bone marrow transplants
(BMT). People with certain types of cancers or other diseases
including leukemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma may undergo a
BMT as part of their treatment. Before the transplant, chemotherapy
and/or radiation may be given to neutralize any cancer in the
marrow.
Traditional approaches to total body irradiation resulted in the
same dose of radiation delivered to the entire body, not just the
bone marrow, causing damage to healthy organs and side effects
ranging from nausea and diarrhea to cataracts and secondary
malignancies. In contrast, the TomoTherapy System delivers small
radiation "beamlets" from 360 degrees around the patient, allowing
for greater control of the prescription dose so it conforms
precisely to the target. This enables physicians to irradiate the
bone marrow with larger doses of radiation while sparing nearby
normal, healthy organs and limiting radiation side effects. Also,
the system's CT scanner-based design allows efficient delivery of
radiation to very large areas without field matching. These
attributes are unique to the TomoTherapy System and facilitate its
use for TMI as an alternative to total body irradiation.
The TomoTherapy System is the only radiation system specifically
designed for image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy
(IMRT). More than 950 scientific articles have been published on
TomoTherapy technology, with many addressing the clinical value and
patient benefit of this treatment modality across a broad the range
of indications. The system offers clinicians the flexibility to
deliver treatment in a helical mode or from clinician-specified
beam angles with TomoDirect™ Mode. These unique features, combined
with daily 3D image guidance, enable physicians to:
- Deliver highly accurate, individualized dose distributions to
any tumor, at its true location, during each treatment; and
- Treat all standard radiation therapy indications including
breast, prostate, lung and head and neck cancers, in addition to
complex treatments such as total marrow irradiation.
For more information visit
http://www.accuray.com/solutions/treatment-delivery/tomotherapy-treatment-delivery/h-series.
Quotes
Carol R., multiple myeloma survivor: "Treatment with the
TomoTherapy System is non-invasive and the radiation beamlets were
able to precisely target my bone marrow and avoid normal healthy
tissue. This cutting edge technology was designed by a team of
people with innovative minds and great hearts. I was fortunate to
have the chance to participate in a clinical trial at City of Hope
10 years ago, where a talented team of medical professionals was
able to envision and effectively apply TomoTherapy technology for
me in a way that had never been done before. It's been 10 years
since my treatment and I continue to live each day to its
fullest."
Joshua H. Levine, president
and chief executive officer of Accuray: "The
TomoTherapy® System is a radiotherapy technology that
allows entirely new approaches, while also bringing the highest
quality care to the widest range of patients. In honor of National
Cancer Survivor's Day, June 7, 2015,
we want to recognize the clinicians worldwide who are using
technologies such as the TomoTherapy System to improve the way
cancer is managed and bring new hope to people who previously would
have been without options."
About the TomoTherapy System
The Accuray TomoTherapy System enables physicians to efficiently
customize treatment plans for the entire range of radiation therapy
patients and disease types. Its innovative design enables treatment
plans to be delivered with integrated, daily CT image guidance,
enhancing accuracy and delivering highly precise,
intensity-modulated radiation for optimal sparing of healthy tissue
and critical structures.
About Accuray
Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY) is a radiation oncology company
that develops, manufactures and sells precise, innovative tumor
treatment solutions that set the standard of care with the aim of
helping patients live longer, better lives. The company's
leading-edge technologies deliver the full range of radiation
therapy and radiosurgery treatments. For more information, please
visit www.accuray.com.
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SOURCE Accuray Incorporated