Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center At UM First In Miami To Offer "GPS For The Body(R)"

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Radiology / Nuclear Medicine;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 30 Apr 2009 - 4:00 PST

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Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth-University of Miami Health System, announced it is the first cancer-care program in the region enabling clinicians to accurately manage delivery of radiation to prostate cancer tumors through a new technology called the Calypso® 4D Localization System™. The System enables precision-guided radiation therapy delivery to the prostate with continuous, objective, organ-motion detection and monitoring. This cutting-edge technology, also referred to as GPS for the Body®, allows clinicians to accurately manage delivery of the prescribed radiation to the tumor.

More than 1.3 million cancer patients receive radiation treatment annually in the U.S. The movement of organs, which naturally occurs as a result of normal body physiology-such as the bladder filling-may cause the prostate to move slightly, potentially compromising the precise delivery of radiation during treatment. The Calypso System enables physicians to detect the slightest tumor movement in real-time so extremely accurate radiation therapy can be delivered without damaging healthy surrounding organs and tissues, which can lead to common side effects such as impotence, incontinence and loss of bowel function. The Calypso System has also been cleared by the FDA for post-prostatectomy patients at risk or diagnosed with recurrent prostate cancer. Studies indicate up to 20% of prostatectomy patients are diagnosed with recurrent prostate cancer following surgery and require adjuvant radiation therapy.

"I am extremely excited to be able to offer my prostate cancer patients this new advanced and most accurate radiation technology," said Dr. Alan Pollack, professor and chairman of radiation oncology at Sylvester. "The ability to monitor prostate motion in real time with incredible accuracy is allowing us to tailor treatments in ways never before possible. There is no question that this is one of the most important advances to date in the field and I expect it will factor prominently in the treatment of other tumors besides prostate cancer in the future."

The key feature of the Calypso System is its Beacon® electromagnetic transponders. Three Beacon® transponders, each the size of a small grain of rice, are implanted in the patient's prostate before radiation therapy is initiated. The Beacon® transponders communicate with the Calypso System to continuously locate the tumor target and monitor its location during each radiation treatment. Currently, there is no other technology available that offers an accurate, continuous, real-time method during the radiation treatments for precisely locating, monitoring and tracking the tumor at all times.

"The anticipated benefits of managing prostate organ motion during radiation therapy delivery are several, including increased clinical confidence that comes with knowing the tumor target is accurately aligned with the delivery of the radiation beam and reduced toxicity of treatment because tighter margins are possible as a consequence." added Dr. Pollack. "We are seeing immediate benefits, with reduced side effects during treatment and afterwards."

Source
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

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