New Cancer-Fighting Technology From Varian Medical Systems

New Cancer-Fighting Technology From Varian Medical Systems

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Varian Medical Systems has introduced new software known as Rapidplan that provides standard-of-care models for clinicians to use as a baseline for formulating complex intensity-modulated radiotherapy treatment plans for their patients. However, the product from the company’s oncology systems business is yet to receive FDA approval and is not yet available for sale. The system was unveiled at the 54th annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

The Rapidplan tool is integrated within Varian’s Eclipse treatment planning system, used for planning all types of external beam radiotherapy. The software is designed to help automate an important part of the treatment planning process, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of care.

Recently, Varian also completed the first two planned installations of its Edge Radiosurgery Suite in Europe and the United States. The Radiosurgery Suite is designed to perform advanced radiosurgery using real-time tumor tracking technology and motion management capabilities.

“High-precision stereotactic ablative radiotherapy has evolved into a highly efficient, non-invasive, and low-toxicity method for treating and, in many cases, eradicating tumors, in an ever increasing number of clinical settings,” said Carlo Greco, M.D., professor of radiation oncology and director of clinical research at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, in Lisbon, Portugal, where the suite was installed. “The Edge system has been designed to meet this challenge, providing a very comprehensive platform for delivery of high-precision 4-D adaptive tumor radiotherapy.”

“At Henry Ford, we’ve had long-standing multidisciplinary collaborative research teams conducting research into the optimal use of radiosurgery to treat tumors of the spine and brain,” said neurosurgeon Steven N. Kalkanis, M.D., director of the Center for Cancer Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Mich., the U.S. site of installation. “The biggest challenge with this type of treatment is that there is no room for error. Millimeters matter. The Edge radiosurgery suite is calibrated for sub-millimeter accuracy. That will help us rest assured that we are doing everything possible to protect normal tissues.”

Varian also is creating The Edge Advisory Board, in order to partner with thought leaders in radiosurgery, including neuro- and thoracic surgeons and radiation oncologists, to support clinical education and advance standards of care.

“The objective in forming this advisory board is to partner with clinicians who perform these procedures to reimagine the practice of radiosurgery,” said Deepak Khuntia, M.D., Varian’s vice president for medical affairs. “We envision this group helping us expand the professional knowledge base on both intracranial and extracranial radiosurgery.”

Varian makes medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy and brachytherapy technologies.