Varian Installs Cyclotron at National Taiwan University Cancer Center | Varian

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Varian Installs Cyclotron at National Taiwan University Cancer Center

Installation marks milestone for first ProBeam system in Taiwan

Varian announced the installation of the cyclotron for its ProBeam® proton therapy system at the National Taiwan University Cancer Center (NTUCC). The cyclotron is a core piece of equipment of the system and its installation marks a key milestone for NTUCC, as the first cancer center in Taiwan with a ProBeam system. Once completed, NTUCC will feature two treatment rooms with full 360-degree rotational gantries and one fixed-beam room all capable of delivering Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT).

The installation was commemorated with a grand lifting ceremony that was attended by Dr. Chung-Ming Kuan, President of the National Taiwan University, Dr. Ming-Shiang Wu, Superintendent of National Taiwan University Hospital, Dr. James Chih-Hsin Yang, Superintendent of National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Terry Gou, founder of YongLin Healthcare Foundation, Dow Wilson, Varian CEO and Taiwan government officials.

“Cancer care treatments have advanced rapidly with the ongoing development of new technologies”, said Dr. James Yang, Superintendent of NTUCC. “With the new proton therapy center combined with our rich clinical experience, NTUCC is proud to offer patients access to advanced, multidisciplinary cancer care.”

Proton therapy is an advanced form of cancer care that uses protons, accelerated to about two-thirds the speed of light, or more than 100,000 miles per second, to destroy cancer cells, while minimizing exposure to nearby healthy tissues. Proton therapy is a highly effective treatment for a wide range of localized tumors including cancers of the brain, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, left breast, lung, and prostate, as well as sarcomas.

Currently, 30 leading proton therapy centers have selected Varian for their proton therapy solutions. The ProBeam system can provide clinicians a viable path to potential next-generation treatments such as FLASH therapy*. In addition to the ProBeam system, NTUCC also agreed to purchase Varian’s ARIA® oncology information system, Eclipse™ treatment planning software and a Halcyon™ system.

“We are excited to achieve this milestone with the YongLin Healthcare Foundation and NTUCC,” said Kolleen Kennedy, Chief Growth Officer and President of Proton Therapy Solutions at Varian. “We look forward to expanding the availability of this advanced cancer treatment technology in Taiwan, achieving a big step forward to a world without fear of cancer.”

*FLASH therapy is under preclinical research. It is not available for clinical use and there is no guarantee of future commercialization.