Varian Medical Systems Establishes Particle Therapy Scientific Advisory Board

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Varian Medical Systems Inc. announced has formed a Particle Therapy Advisory Board. Comprised of a diverse group of radiation oncologists and physicists from many prestigious institutions from around the world, and offering over 450 years of collective experience in the field, the 20-member advisory board will provide valuable clinical insights on particle therapy and feedback to Varian on product and program development.

Comments from the Board:
“This Advisory Board provides Varian a unique opportunity to have regular in-depth discussions with some of the leading radiation oncologists and physicists to address important topics such as adaptive proton therapy and the future of imaging, which are critical to the continued development of this cancer-fighting technology,” said Moataz Karmalawy, Ph.D., general manager of Varian’s Particle Therapy division.

“I’ve been working with Varian’s Probeam system since 2014 and because of their scanning technology I have been able to treat more complex-shaped and larger tumors than I could previously,” said Carl Rossi, M.D., medical director of Scripps Proton Therapy Center. “This advisory board is further evidence that Varian is focused on the future of particle therapy and they are collaborating with a strong team of radiation oncologists and physicists to advise them as they continue to bring technical innovation to proton therapy.”

“I applaud Varian for bringing together a diverse group of thought leaders to discuss how to advance proton therapy,” said Steven Frank,  M.D., medical director, MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center. “I look forward to working in partnership with my fellow advisory board members and the Varian team on increasing patient access to this valuable cancer fighting technology.”

“Proton therapy will be an important part of our radiation oncology offerings at Memorial Sloan Kettering,” said Simon Powell, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “Participating in Varian’s Particle Therapy Advisory Board provides the opportunity to partner with colleagues from around the world to discuss advancements to proton therapy, such as the implications of new radiobiology research.”

Proton therapy makes it possible to treat certain types of cancer more precisely and with potentially fewer side effects than with conventional radiation therapy. With proton therapy, the risk of damage to healthy tissues is reduced. The method can be applied for many of the most common types of cancer and offers advantages when treating tumors close to radiosensitive tissues. In pediatric patients the risk of developing a new, radiation-induced cancer later in life can be reduced.

Varian’s Probeam technology is being used to treat patients at the Scripps Proton Therapy Center in San Diego, Calif.; the Maryland Proton Treatment Center in Baltimore, Md.; the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich, Germany; and at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. Varian also has contracts for system installations at 13 other sites around the world.