First Cancer Center in Thailand Commences Treating Patients Using TrueBeam™ System for High Precision Image-Guided Radiotherapy

BANGKOK, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chulabhorn Hospital here has become the first clinic in Thailand to commence treating cancer using the TrueBeam™ system from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR).  Clinicians used the new system early this year to treat a 63-year-old liver cancer patient with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR)—a precise method of using carefully shaped high-energy radiation beams to attack a tumor from outside the body, without performing surgery. 

"We determined that the lesion could not be excised surgically or treated with radiofrequency ablation because it was too close to the heart," said Kanyanee Laebua, M.D., head of radiation oncology at the hospital.  "The TrueBeam system was ideal for this treatment.  We were able to use RapidArc to approach the tumor from many different angles very quickly—an approach that maximizes dose to the tumor and minimizes exposure of surrounding healthy tissues.  We did this using the TrueBeam system's high intensity mode for delivering high doses very quickly.  Dose delivery took less than two minutes once the patient was positioned for the treatment."

The treatment was delivered in six sessions over a two-week period and each session was completed in significantly less time than is required with older technologies.  "With TrueBeam, the fast dose delivery can enhance precision by helping us minimize the extent of tumor motion during treatment," said Dr. Laebua.  "Shorter treatment times may help patients find treatments less stressful, since they must be immobilized for each procedure."

Clinicians at the Chulabhorn Hospital anticipate using their TrueBeam system primarily for radiosurgical procedures to address lung and liver cancer patients who are deemed inoperable.  "The image-guidance tools on the TrueBeam system are easier and faster for our clinicians to operate, compared with earlier generations of technology, and they enable us confirm the accuracy of our targeting during treatments," said Dr. Laebua.   "We look forward to offering more patients access to advanced types of radiotherapy that have the potential to increase tumor control rates."

About the TrueBeam System

TrueBeam was designed to treat tumors with increased speed and accuracy, including tumors that move during treatment. It features several technical innovations that dynamically synchronize and integrate imaging, patient positioning, motion management, and treatment delivery during sophisticated treatments for cancer. With its High Intensity Mode, TrueBeam can accurately deliver high doses, more than twice as fast as earlier generations of technology.

"The TrueBeam system is Varian's most advanced offering for radiosurgical procedures in the body, making it especially well-suited for treating cancer of the lung and liver, two types that occur commonly in Asia," said Tom Duffy, head of Varian's Oncology Systems business in Asia. "We are honored to work with the clinicians at the Chulabhorn Hospital, as they expand their capabilities on behalf of cancer patients in Thailand."

Note to editors: High resolution images of Varian's TrueBeam system for image-guided radiotherapy are available online at this URL: http://varian.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=31899&cat=2470&mode=gallery.

ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies high-energy X-ray devices for cargo screening and non-destructive testing applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,900 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.

ABOUT CHULABHORN HOSPITAL

Chulabhorn Hospital is one of the leading treatment centers in Thailand.  With the motto: "Being an excellent centre for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research, with up-to-date guidelines and international standards in the South East Asia region," the hospital is committed to serving the public as well as medical research and education—goals that serve the aspirations of the president, Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhord Mahidol.  The Radiation Oncology Unit pioneered image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) in Thailand and is the first TrueBeam system installation in Southeast Asia.

SOURCE Varian Medical Systems

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