This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
ADVANCES IN RADIOTHERAPY DETAILED AT CANCER SUMMIT


Article provided by Varian Medical Systems


radiotherapy that are bringing additional treatment possibilities for cancer patients. More than 450 oncologists, physicists and radiotherapy practitioners attended the two-day Berlin Oncology Summit, organized by radiotherapy world leader Varian Medical Systems, to share experiences and highlight the expanding use of radiotherapy and radiosurgery to treat an increasingly wide range of cancers. Key sessions at the event looked at


C


ten years’ worth of data since the first IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy) treatments in Europe, as well as advanced clinical applications using higher dose delivery systems such as Varian’s TrueBeam™ linear accelerator and the growing practise of hypo-fractionated


ancer experts from around the world gathered in Berlin recently to hear of advances in


 What’s particularly noticeable is the growing use of SBRT to treat cancers that would previously have only been treatable using surgery


stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer. Varian introduced the advanced TrueBeam system in April 2010 and has since taken 380 orders and installed more than 145 systems. SBRT, a form of radiosurgery which


differs from traditional radiotherapy in that higher doses are given over a shorter number of treatments, is an emerging treatment for prostate cancer and a viable alternative, in some cases, to


more invasive surgical procedures that require hospitals stays and long recovery periods. Possible advantages of SBRT include fewer side effects and greater patient convenience. Rolf Staehelin, Varian’s international


head of marketing operations, said, “This is the twelfth time we have held a gathering such as this and the best attended yet. Many of the major advances in radiotherapy and radiosurgery described at this event are in routine clinical use on a daily basis for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide. What’s particularly noticeable is the growing use of SBRT to treat cancers that would previously have only been treatable using surgery. These new techniques are offering patients an efficient, non-invasive out-patient alternative to invasive surgical approaches which entail anaesthetic and long recovery periods in hospitals.” ■


ML


Image © Varian Medical Systems 42 www.lifesciencesmagazines.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46