Zug, Switzerland – September 19th 2005 – Varian Medical Systems is spotlighting its innovative Dynamic Adaptive Radiotherapy™ (DART™) solutions for personalized cancer care at the European Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncologists (ESTRO) meeting on physics and radiation technology in Lisbon, Portugal.
“With the advent of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), new opportunities for personalized cancer care over the course of treatment are becoming possible,‿ says Walter Frei, Varian’s European VP, sales and marketing operations. “DART is the next stage in personalized cancer care. Our solutions can dynamically adapt to changing conditions in the patient to give them exactly the right kind of treatment – the right dose, in the right place, at the right time, right now.‿
DART offers an automated and integrated way of adapting radiotherapy treatment plans based on the better imaging afforded by IGRT. Along with the market-leading On Board Imager™ device for IGRT, Varian will also be demonstrating its Trilogy™ and Clinac® linear accelerators, its Acuity treatment planning capabilities and the latest versions of its treatment planning, imaging and information management software.
Dynamic Adaptive Radiotherapy is being made possible by the technological convergence of image guidance tools, integrated image and data management, sophisticated planning capabilities such as auto-segmentation and image registration, and IMRT- (intensity modulated radiotherapy) enabled treatment delivery in a single system.
“Such a system ties together every step, from simulation and treatment planning to adaptive treatment delivery based on the reality of a patient’s condition each and every day, as it changes,‿ says Frei. “Our goal is always to empower clinicians in their fight against cancer, not limit them.‿
CONE BEAM CT
The addition of kV Cone Beam CT functionality to Varian's On-Board Imager has made it the most comprehensive and versatile imaging system for fine-tuning patient positioning at the moment of treatment. Developed by scientists at Varian's Ginzton Technology Center in Mountain View, California and at Varian’s Imaging Laboratory in Baden, Switzerland, the Cone Beam CT capability augments the image guidance toolkit available with the On-Board Imager device so that it now encompasses kV and MV radiographic, kV fluoroscopic, and kV Cone Beam CT imaging, whereas the radiographic imaging tools also feature a special mode for the automatic registration of radiopaque markers.
"The Cone Beam CT imaging capability gives doctors an important third modality for pinpointing the exact location of the tumor," adds Walter Frei. "It is especially useful when the tumor is far from any bony landmarks, and hard to distinguish from surrounding soft tissues. Having access to volumetric Cone Beam CT data has the potential to significantly improve tumor targeting in these difficult cases."
In CBCT imaging mode, the On-Board Imager™ is rotated once around the patient to quickly acquire a high-quality, low dose 3-D image of the tumor and surrounding anatomy. Just before treatment, therapists compare these 3-D images to reference images from the treatment plan. Through 3-D image matching, which can be accomplished manually or automatically, positioning shifts and rotations are calculated and the patient is moved into position for treatment. Hirslanden Klinik in Aarau, Switzerland, and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, are among the establishments utilising Cone Beam CT with the On-Board Imager.
LEADERSHIP IN IGRT
Varian Medical Systems announced in July robust demand for its Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) products, reporting that it has installed or commenced installation of more than 80 of its new On-Board Imager™ devices at radiotherapy clinics around the world.
“It’s clear that radiation oncology is rapidly embracing IGRT as a crucial aid to enhancing the accuracy, effectiveness and reach of radiotherapy,‿ says Tim Guertin, president and chief operating officer. “IGRT is making it possible for more patients to receive advanced treatments such as IMRT and stereotactic radiotherapy and opening the door to treatment of early stage metastatic disease.‿
“We have seen this new imaging technology take off very quickly,‿ says Guertin. “The first On-Board Imager was installed at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute a year ago, and since then there has been a strong demand that has exceeded our expectations.‿
In addition to numerous installations in North America and Europe, On-Board Imager devices have been – or are currently being – installed at leading cancer centres in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Japan. The devices can be ordered with new linear accelerators – such as Varian’s Clinac® iX or Trilogy™ machines - or they can be added to existing accelerators.
ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., (NYSE:VAR) of Palo Alto, California is the world's leading supplier of equipment and software for treating cancer. The company is also a premier supplier of components including X-ray tubes and flat-panel detectors for medical, scientific, and industrial imaging. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 3,280 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and in its 55 sales and support offices around the world. The company operates manufacturing and engineering centres in Baden (Switzerland), Crawley (England), Haan (Germany), Helsinki (Finland) and Toulouse (France) and has headquarters for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) based in Zug, Switzerland. Additional information is available on the company's web site at www.varian.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this press release regarding future business, events, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and other similar matters, including, but not limited to, statements using the terms "can" and "expect," constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Editorial contact: Neil Madle, Varian Medical Systems, +44 7786 526068