First Patients Treated with the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System in Venezuela
Accuray Expands Availability of CyberKnife Treatments to Cancer Patients in Latin American
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY) announced today that doctors at Hospital Dr Domingo Luciani in Venezuela are now treating patients with the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System, the first and only robotic radiosurgery system. The CyberKnife System works by delivering high doses of radiation to tumors with extreme precision, essentially "painting" just the tumor with radiation while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and thereby reducing potential side effects. Today, the CyberKnife System is used as a non-invasive alternative to both conventional radiation therapy and surgery at leading centers worldwide.
Hospital Dr Domingo Luciani is a leading medical center in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The hospital first started treating patients with the CyberKnife System in July 2012 and since then has treated patients for indications such as prostate cancer, gliomas and sarcomas. One of the first patients was a 22-year-old man who was treated with the CyberKnife System for a complex craniopharyngioma on the brainstem that caused debilitating impairments, including loss of vision, an inability to speak and reduced mobility. Just one week after treatment, the patient was talking again and he has continued to experience significant improvements, including a slow return of vision and mobility. Today, he is telling jokes, singing opera and feeling great.*
"At Hospital Dr Domingo Luciani, we are committed to offering patients the most advanced cancer treatment options available," said Selma Gamboa, director of The Radiotherapy Center Dr Domingo Luciani, in Caracas-Venezuela. "The CyberKnife System represents a significant step forward in the non-invasive treatment of tumors, offering patients a highly personalized option that effectively treats even the most challenging tumors while minimizing the impact on healthy tissue. With the help of the CyberKnife System, we are able to offer patients in the region renewed hope and the best care available."
Backed by numerous peer-reviewed studies supporting its safety and efficacy, the CyberKnife System provides a pain-free, non-invasive option for patients who are looking for an alternative to surgery and for patients who have inoperable or surgically complex tumors. Treatment with the CyberKnife System is typically completed in one to five days, instead of the 35 or more treatment sessions typically required with conventional radiation therapy, and unlike surgery, CyberKnife treatment requires minimal recovery time.
The CyberKnife System is unique because it not only tracks the motion of the tumor movement, it automatically corrects for that motion throughout treatment. The ability to manage motion in real time helps ensure that radiation is delivered only to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue and critical structures and is particularly helpful for treating tumors of the lung, liver and prostate where movement is common. Research shows that a reduction in radiation exposure to healthy tissue helps reduce side effects associated with treatment. In addition, the CyberKnife System's robotic arm allows for the delivery of radiation from any angle without the need to reposition patients on the treatment table.
"We are excited to announce that the CyberKnife System is now live in four leading centers in Latin America," said Joshua Levine, president and chief executive officer of Accuray. "This installation is an important milestone for Accuray as we expand our presence in the region and bring CyberKnife to this important patient population."
In August, Accuray announced treatment of the first patient in South America at Instituto Neurológico de Colombia (INDEC) in Medellin, Colombia. The CyberKnife System also is available at CHRISTUS MUGUERZA Hospital Alta Especialidad in Monterrey, Mexico and IMSS - Siglo XXI in Mexico City.
About Hospital Dr Domingo Luciani
Dr Domingo Luciani Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Caracas and one of the most renowned hospitals in Caracas for their medical specialties, the high technology medical equipments and good care to their patients. Dr Domingo Luciani Hospital or General Hospital East, belongs to the hospitals of the Venezuelan Institute of Social Security (IVSS).
About Accuray
Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., develops, manufactures and sells personalized innovative treatment solutions that set the standard of care, with the aim of helping patients live longer, better lives. The Company's leading edge technologies – the CyberKnife and TomoTherapy Systems – are designed to deliver radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, image guided radiation therapy, and adaptive radiation therapy. To date 667 systems have been installed in leading hospitals around the world. For more information, please visit www.accuray.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate, but are not limited, to clinical applications, clinical results, patient outcomes, and the Company's leadership position in radiation oncology innovation. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's report on Form 10-K filed on September 10, 2012, as updated in our Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2012 and as updated periodically by our other filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available to the Company at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
*This case study, provided by a center (Dr Domingo Luciani), showcase positive outcome. Individual treatment results may vary. Please consult a physician to discuss individual cases, including eligibility for treatment with Accuray device.
SOURCE Accuray Incorporated
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article