Benefits of adding proton therapy with ProteusONE
Proton therapy represents a significant advancement in radiation oncology. In this article, Dr. Craig Stevens, Chair of Radiation Oncology at Corewell Health’s William Beaumont University Hospital Proton Therapy Center, discusses the evolution and benefits of their ProteusONE system installed in 2017.
Benefits of proton therapy with ProteusONE
The installation of ProteusONE marked a transformative period for the hospital, allowing to treat a broader spectrum of patient. With around 25 to 35 patients treated daily. On their ProteusONE, a notable 40% of these cases involve pediatric cancer patients, alongside many cases of head and neck tumors, and central nervous system (CNS) tumors. This diverse patient mix showcases the system's versatility and effectiveness in treating complex cases.
The primary advantage of proton therapy lies in its ability to drastically reduce normal tissue toxicity while delivering effective doses to tumors.1 Dr. Craig Stevens provides his own example of tissue toxicity reduction: “When I treat a patient that has an anterior mediastinal tumor, we can reduce the cardiac dose by over 80%. That’s going to lead to less short-term and long-term toxicity and better quality of life for patients.”
Discover how ProteusONE’s versatility allows to treat complex cases here.
Positive effects on finances, reputation and patient volume
Beyond the clinical advantages, the addition of proton therapy has also proven to be a beneficial financial and reputational investment for the hospital. Dr. Stevens notes that their work surrounding the development of DynamicARC* and the publications related to proton therapy have reinforced the hospital's reputation in the radiotherapy community. This revolutionary treatment modality has positioned William Beaumont and IBA as leaders in proton Arc therapy.
Discover IBA’s commitment to create the future of proton therapy innovations with DynamicARC*.
The installation of the proton therapy center has also had a pronounced halo effect on patient volumes across other treatment modalities. Following the establishment of their proton therapy program, the hospital experienced a 10% increase in X-ray treatment volume, a doubling of brachytherapy volume, and a tripling of pediatric cancer cases. This increase highlights how the introduction of proton therapy has attracted more patients to various treatment options available at Corewell Health’s William Beaumont facility.
Find out more about ProteusONE’s halo effect here.
Technological excellence of ProteusONE
Dr. Craig Stevens highlights that the choice of ProteusONE was the right one for the William Beaumont Proton Therapy Center due to various reasons: its multi-modality imaging capabilities ensure accurate tumor localization, while the robotic couch offers six degrees of freedom, widening the possibilities for treatment angles, including non-coplanar vertex beams. The treatment possibilities are being further enhanced with the development of DynamicARC*. Another essential feature of ProteusONE is its open gantry design, particularly appreciated by treatment staff as it allows them be closer to patients, including pediatric patients.
Collaboration with IBA Service Team
The success of the ProteusONE system is also attributed to the strong collaboration with the IBA service & engineering teams. Dr. Stevens describes the IBA engineers as “part of the Beaumont family”, emphasizing their critical role in maintaining beam quality and conducting preventative maintenance. This partnership has ensured high uptime and optimal performance of the proton therapy system, further solidifying its place in patient care and research.
Click here to find out more about IBA’s commitment to ensuring their partner’s successful proton therapy project implementation and cancer patient care.
In conclusion, the impact of adding proton therapy at William Beaumont University Hospital has been overwhelmingly positive. The ProteusONE system not only enhances the quality of care delivered to cancer patients but also strengthens the institution's reputation and financial standing.
Notes
Disclaimer: The statements of the healthcare professional included in this testimonial reflect only his opinion and personal experience. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any institution with whom he is affiliated or IBA.
* DynamicARC is the registered brand of IBA’s Proton Arc therapy solution which is currently under research and development. DynamicARC will be available for sale when regulatory clearance is received. Due to a continuous research and development program, IBA reserves the right to make changes in design, technical descriptions, and specifications of its products without prior notice. Some features are under development and may be subject to review by competent authorities.
References
- Mohan, R. et al. Proton therapy – Present and future. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2017;10926–44. DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.11.006
