Revolutionizing Proton Therapy: RayStation Unveils Proton Arc Therapy at Trento Proton Therapy Center

Have you ever wondered how advanced medical technologies are transforming cancer treatment? RaySearch Laboratories AB, a trailblazer in medical technology, has just announced a groundbreaking innovation in proton therapy: proton arc therapy, now in clinical use at the Trento Proton Therapy Center in Italy. Let's dive into this remarkable development and explore its potential implications.

Proton therapy, one of the most advanced forms of radiotherapy, uses proton beams to precisely target and treat tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Traditionally, these treatments are delivered from a limited number of directions. However, RaySearch's RayStation has revolutionized this process by optimizing discrete proton arc therapy, enabling proton delivery over 20 to 30 directions.

The Medical Physics team at the Trento Proton Therapy Center recently conducted an extensive research study comparing their current treatment planning technique for head and neck cancer patients with proton arcs. The results were astonishing: large dose reductions outside the tumor volume with proton arcs, confirming previous preclinical work. These findings suggest that proton arc therapy could unlock significant additional benefits in proton therapy, potentially taking it to the next level in several clinical indications.

To ensure the clinical feasibility of this innovative technique, the Trento Proton Therapy Center performed quality assurance measurements using a detector designed for arc therapy. The team also assessed the impact on the clinical workflow, including treatment time. The conclusion was clear: discrete proton arc therapy delivered by their current treatment system from IBA is clinically feasible, and treatments have now started.

Frank Lohr, Medical Chair, and Francesco Fracchiolla, Project Lead Arc Therapy, Medical Physicist, both at the Trento Proton Therapy Center, shared their excitement: "In the same way as VMAT has revolutionized radiotherapy with photons, proton arc treatments have the potential to unlock significant additional benefits in proton therapy, taking it to the next level in several clinical indications. The collaboration between radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and RaySearch has been the key to this progress in delivery technique."

Johan Löf, founder and CEO of RaySearch, echoed their enthusiasm: "The start of proton arc treatments marks a major milestone in proton therapy. It has been great to see the commitment of the team at the Trento Proton Therapy Center in introducing this technique into their clinical workflow. I am proud that RaySearch has played an instrumental role in pioneering proton arc therapy by advanced optimization algorithms and planning tools."



This remarkable achievement is just the beginning. RaySearch's advanced optimization algorithms and planning tools in RayStation have the potential to revolutionize proton therapy across various clinical indications, including head and neck cancer, Chordomas/Sarcomas, Pediatric Cancer, and Rare Head and Neck Cancer. The integration of proton therapy in multidisciplinary treatment concepts, such as Proton ARC therapy, V-IGRT, and FLASH, is a key research interest at the Trento Proton Therapy Center.

In conclusion, RaySearch Laboratories' RayStation has set a new standard in proton therapy with the introduction of proton arc therapy at the Trento Proton Therapy Center. This innovative technique promises significant additional benefits in proton therapy, potentially transforming cancer treatment for patients worldwide. As we continue to explore the potential of advanced medical technologies, we can be confident that the future of cancer treatment is bright and full of promise.

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