Total Marrow Irradiation Provides Greater Precision, Fewer Side Effects

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the first successful total marrow irradiation (TMI) using the TomoTherapy® System. This procedure was performed at City of Hope in Duarte, California. As a result of continuing research and use of the system for TMI, numerous centers around the world have adopted the approach, once considered to be impossible because of limitations inherent to conventional radiation therapy systems.

TMI is an advanced form of total body irradiation, which has traditionally been an important part of bone marrow transplants (BMT). People with certain types of cancers or other diseases including leukemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma may undergo a BMT as part of their treatment. Before the transplant, chemotherapy and/or radiation may be given to neutralize any cancer in the marrow.

Traditional approaches to total body irradiation resulted in the same dose of radiation delivered to the entire body, not just the bone marrow, causing damage to healthy organs and side effects ranging from nausea and diarrhea to cataracts and secondary malignancies. In contrast, the TomoTherapy System delivers small radiation "beamlets" from 360 degrees around the patient, allowing for greater control of the prescription dose so it conforms precisely to the target. This enables physicians to irradiate the bone marrow with larger doses of radiation while sparing nearby normal, healthy organs and limiting radiation side effects. Also, the system's CT scanner-based design allows efficient delivery of radiation to very large areas without field matching. These attributes are unique to the TomoTherapy System and facilitate its use for TMI as an alternative to total body irradiation.

The TomoTherapy System is the only radiation system specifically designed for image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). More than 950 scientific articles have been published on TomoTherapy technology, with many addressing the clinical value and patient benefit of this treatment modality across a broad the range of indications. The system offers clinicians the flexibility to deliver treatment in a helical mode or from clinician-specified beam angles with TomoDirect™ Mode. These unique features, combined with daily 3D image guidance, enable physicians to:

• Deliver highly accurate, individualized dose distributions to any tumor, at its true location, during each treatment; and
• Treat all standard radiation therapy indications including breast, prostate, lung and head and neck cancers, in addition to complex treatments such as total marrow irradiation.

For more information visit http://www.accuray.com/solutions/treatment-delivery/tomotherapy-treatment-delivery/h-series.

QuotesCarol R., multiple myeloma survivor: "Treatment with the TomoTherapy System is non-invasive and the radiation beamlets were able to precisely target my bone marrow and avoid normal healthy tissue. This cutting edge technology was designed by a team of people with innovative minds and great hearts. I was fortunate to have the chance to participate in a clinical trial at City of Hope 10 years ago, where a talented team of medical professionals was able to envision and effectively apply TomoTherapy technology for me in a way that had never been done before. It's been 10 years since my treatment and I continue to live each day to its fullest." 

Joshua H. Levine, president and chief executive officer of Accuray: "The TomoTherapy® System is a radiotherapy technology that allows entirely new approaches, while also bringing the highest quality care to the widest range of patients. In honor of National Cancer Survivor's Day, June 7, 2015, we want to recognize the clinicians worldwide who are using technologies such as the TomoTherapy System to improve the way cancer is managed and bring new hope to people who previously would have been without options."

About the TomoTherapy SystemThe Accuray TomoTherapy System enables physicians to efficiently customize treatment plans for the entire range of radiation therapy patients and disease types. Its innovative design enables treatment plans to be delivered with integrated, daily CT image guidance, enhancing accuracy and delivering highly precise, intensity-modulated radiation for optimal sparing of healthy tissue and critical structures.

About AccurayAccuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY) is a radiation oncology company that develops, manufactures and sells precise, innovative tumor treatment solutions that set the standard of care with the aim of helping patients live longer, better lives. The company's leading-edge technologies deliver the full range of radiation therapy and radiosurgery treatments. For more information, please visit www.accuray.com.

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SOURCE Accuray Incorporated