Collaboration on Motion Management Tool for Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy

Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA) and Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI; Villigen PSI, Switzerland) are collaborating on to further develop motion management techniques for proton therapy.

The multiyear agreement, geared at enhancing treatment approaches for tumors in the pancreas, liver, lung, and breast, will evaluate approaches using a four-dimensional (4D) treatment-planning simulator developed by PSI.

Proton therapy involves the use of a controlled beam of protons to target tumors with higher levels of precision than is possible with other forms of radiation therapy, potentially limiting damage to healthy surrounding tissue. The Paul Scherrer Institute is an innovator in the development of intensity- modulated proton therapy (IMPT) techniques, and specializes in the treatment of pediatric patients. “We hope to exploit our unique methods for simulating clinically realistic organ motions for the study of motion mitigation techniques for spot scanned proton therapy,” stated Prof. Tony Lomax from PSI. “This project will utilize 4D motion data sets and dose calculations that can uniquely model patient motion variations that are difficult to capture with conventional data sets.”

“Varian’s ProBeam proton system was developed in collaboration with the PSI,” stated Moataz Karmalawy, general manager of Varian’s particle therapy division. “We are delighted to expand our partnership with this internationally respected institute to include the development of indications-specific solutions. This collaboration will support our customers in the fight against cancers that have not typically been treated with proton therapy in the past.”

The capability to treat moving tumors is increasingly important for proton therapy facilities worldwide. “When testing motion mitigation techniques, it’s important to have a tool that can simulate the timed dose delivery for realistic tumor cases to determine the relative merit of the different techniques,” said Jan Timmer, marketing director for Varian particle therapy. “PSI has developed excellent software for 4D treatment planning and we want to support its further development and the ongoing evaluation of motion management techniques.”

CE marking and international registrations are still pending for ProBeam. The system is not yet available for sale in all markets.

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. is a world-leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers, and medical oncology practices.

PSI operates the first compact scanning gantry worldwide for proton radiation therapy of deep-seated tumors. The spot-scanning technique developed at PSI enables malignant tumors to be targeted with high precision deep inside in the body without damaging healthy tissue around the target area. By end of 2011, the PSI compact Gantry 1 had been used to treat more than 800 patients suffering from brain, skull-base or spinal cord tumors as well as abdominal sarcomas. Among the patients were more than 200 children and young people under the age of 20. PSI has treated children since 2004.

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