ELEKTA'S REVOLUTION ENCOURAGES RADIOTHERAPY EVOLUTION
Elekta Synergy(TM) set to lead the way in image-guided radiotherapy
Exciting data presented today at the American Society for Therapeutic
Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting, demonstrate the enormous
potential for the new Elekta Synergy(TM) system to significantly advance
radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients.
One in three people will develop cancer in their lifetime and four out
of ten cancer patients will receive radiotherapy as part of their
treatment. Radiation is directed at a patient's tumour in order to kill
cancerous cells, however, radiation can also affect surrounding healthy
cells if it is not directed exactly. Traditionally, a scanned image is
taken prior to treatment to identify the exact location of the cancer
tumour. However, an enlarged radiation field is often used to account
for the uncertainty of the tumours' position. This uncertainty can be
due to a number of causes:
· The accuracy with which the patient can be positioned on the therapy
machine.
· Movement within the body (e.g. movement caused by breathing).
· Changes between the time of scan and actual treatment.
The data presented by Dr Mark Oldham, Staff Physicist and Daniel
Letourneau from William Beaumont Hospital, Michigan, USA, show that by
combining an X-ray volume imaging system and radiotherapy equipment (a
medical accelerator) to provide 'real time' images of the tumour during
treatment, the image quality and treatment accuracy is significantly
improved.(ref:1,2) A preliminary study for prostate cancer treatment
indicated that it would be possible to attain a planning target volume
margin expansion less than 5mm compared to a conventional 10mm margin
(within a 20 minute treatment slot).(ref:1)
Mark Oldham said, "Integrated imaging and treatment provides a
significant opportunity to improve the practice of radiation therapy and
enhance the outlook for cancer patients. The data presented at ASTRO,
together with previous data suggests that the introduction of Elekta
Synergy(TM) will be well received by radiation oncologists and patients
alike."
The data presented at ASTRO further supports encouraging data presented
at the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO),
which reports on the clinical use of Elekta Synergy(TM), describing it
as having enormous potential for image-guided radiotherapy and being the
current state-of-the-art in image acquisition, reconstruction and
processing.(ref:3,4) Key findings from the data showed:
· Using repeat scans to account for tumour position and movement
resulted in the reduction of systematic errors from 0.4-1.3cm (SD) to
0.2-0.6cm (SD).
· A further reduction in systematic errors to 0.1-0.3cm (SD) was
obtained by treating patients with a small day-to-day variation (<1cm
SD) with adaptive radiotherapy and all remaining patients with image-
guided radiotherapy.
Additional data presented at ESTRO demonstrate that online
(simultaneous) imaging and adaptation of a treatment plan to the actual
shape and position of the target volume (tumour) will improve the
outcome in specific cancer radiotherapy treatment cases.(ref:5)
The success of Elekta Synergy(TM) has been brought about through close
collaboration between Elekta and the following research sites:
· Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada
· William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
· Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK
· The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Volker Stieber, Elekta Executive Vice President - Technology Development
& Operations, acknowledged the aptness of the new product's name,
"Synergy is defined as two or more entities working together, wherein
the sum is greater than each individual's contribution. Elekta
Synergy(TM) adds dedicated imaging technology to a proven treatment
platform, creating a system that is truly more than the sum of its
parts."
Elekta Synergy(TM) system is pending 510(k) pre-market clearance and is
not currently available for sale or distribution in the USA.
Notes to editors:
· For further information regarding Elekta Synergy(TM) and other Elekta
products, please visit www.elekta.com
· Images of Elekta Synergy(TM) can be accessed at the following website
address: www.elekta.com/investors
Elekta is a world-leading supplier of advanced and innovative radiationoncology and neurosurgery solutions and services for precise treatmentof cancer and brain disorders. Elekta's solutions are clinicallyeffective, cost efficient and gentle to the patient.References:1. Oldham M, et al. Online volumetric CT-guided radiation therapy.Abstract 101. American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and OncologyAnnual Meeting, October 2003.2. Letourneau D, et al. Implementation of an on-board kilovoltage cone-beam CT imaging system for clinical applications. Abstract 102. AmericanSociety for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Annual Meeting 2003.3. Sonke J, et al. Image quality of a cone beam CT system for imageguided radiotherapy. Oral presentation, abstract 66. European Societyfor Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Annual Meeting, September 2003.4. van Herk M, et al. Clinical implementation of cone-beam CT guidedradiotherapy. Oral presentation, abstract 27. European Society forTherapeutic Radiology and Oncology Annual Meeting, September 2003.5. Remeijer M, et al. CT imaging for RT: Is one scan sufficient? Posterpresentation, abstract 19. European Society for Therapeutic Radiologyand Oncology Annual Meeting, September 2003.This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.netThe following files are available for download:http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/10/22/20031022BIT00070/wkr0001.dochttp://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/10/22/20031022BIT00070/wkr0002.pdf