RaySearch releases RayStation 7 with support For RayCare and Mevion HYPERSCAN

8 December 2017 – RayStation® 7*, the latest release of RaySearch’s innovative radiation therapy treatment planning system, adds new functionality and a wide range of improvements. Significant additions include support for HYPERSCAN technology from Mevion Medical Systems, and integration with RayCare*, the next-generation oncology information system shortly to be launched by RaySearch.

The functionality additions in the new release are in line with RaySearch’s ambition to unify treatment planning for as many systems as possible, eliminating the complications and additional steps that arise from using multiple software systems. This release also contains several enhancements to existing functionality that will contribute to improved workflows and planning efficiency.

Proton therapy is an important focus for RaySearch, and RayStation 7 contains some significant new features for the area. A key inclusion is support for Mevion’s HYPERSCAN pencil beam scanning technology. In addition, RayStation now supports uniform scanning for proton therapy systems from Mitsubishi Electric. Other proton therapy improvements include snout rotation for passive proton techniques and MLC collimation for PBS and passive techniques.

Further key refinements to RayStation functionality include the addition of robust constraints in MCO, simulated organ motion for robust optimization and evaluation, multi-atlas-based segmentation and conformal arc planning for photons.

In December this year, RaySearch will launch a groundbreaking new oncology information system, RayCare, which will integrate fully with RayStation. The new RayStation 7 release includes functionality to ensure a seamless experience for users of the combined systems.

Johan Löf, CEO of RaySearch, says: “We are working to support an integrated approach to cancer care. RayCare, which is about to be launched, is a huge leap for us in terms of unifying the main oncology disciplines. By adding support for Mevion’s HYPERSCAN technology and uniform scanning for Mitsubishi machines, we have taken another step towards our goal of harmonizing treatment planning. And we will add support for more systems in the near future.”

* Subject to regulatory clearance in some markets.

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IBA, Beaumont Hospital to develop next-generation proton therapy delivery

Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 25 September 2017 - IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA), the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, is pleased to announce the research agreement with Beaumont's Proton Therapy Center to develop the next generation proton therapy delivery technique called scanned proton arc therapy (SPArc). Proton arc therapy has the possibility to further improve the quality of the treatment by enhancing the dose conformity at the tumor level while reducing the total dose received by the patient. By better shaping the tumor dose it can further reduce dose to critical organs. In addition, arc therapy technique increases the robustness of the treatment plan, and may further improve the adoption of dose escalation and hypo-fractionation. This agreement is the first step in a long-standing partnership started several years ago.

Craig Stevens, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Health, commented: "Beaumont Hospital has been leading the research in radiotherapy for decades, and we are proud and eager to start working on such an innovative project with IBA. The level of expertise combined will bring proton therapy to the next level. Proton arc therapy has been contemplated for some time, and recent improvements in beam quality and delivery are enabling us to develop this clinically viable product. Proton SPArc therapy should allow us to improve dose conformity at the tumor, while further reducing dose to surrounding healthy tissue without the need for cumbersome and expensive beam shaping systems."

Nicolas Bronchart, Executive Vice President, Research & Development Proton Therapy, added: "IBA is once again pushing the limit of proton therapy and together with Beaumont's Proton Therapy Center we will bring a technology that could offer further benefits for patients. The initial development will take place on our compact IMPT* system, the Proteus®ONE, but IBA's strategy has always been to offer break-through advancements to our entire product line. IBA's proton therapy systems are built on the most versatile platform allowing for future upgrades and making IBA a future proof choice." 

* Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy

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RaySearch enters agreement with Sumitomo for boron neutron capture therapy

20 November 2017 – RaySearch and Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo), based in Tokyo, Japan, have entered into an agreement regarding treatment planning for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) – a unique type of radiation therapy that targets cancer at the cellular level. The agreement extends the existing cooperation between Sumitomo and RaySearch on proton therapy.

Sumitomo has developed the world’s first accelerator-based clinical BNCT system and is conducting clinical trials regarding recurrent head-and-neck and brain cancers in Japan.  Treatment planning is an essential aspect of BNCT, and Sumitomo selected RayStation because of its advanced capabilities and usability. 

Under the agreement, RayStation’s functionality will be extended to support BNCT planning requirements*. BNCT will be an additional treatment modality in RayStation, alongside the existing options for photon, electron, proton, and carbon ion therapy. Users of BNCT will have access to the full range of advanced functionality in RayStation, including atlas-based segmentation, deformable image registration and scripting. 

BNCT is a promising radiation therapy technique based on a two-step process. First, the patient is injected with a tumor-localizing drug containing the non-radioactive isotope boron-10. In the second step, the target area is exposed to a beam of low-energy neutrons, many of which are absorbed by the boron-10. The absorption initiates a reaction in which short-range, high-energy charged particles are emitted. These particles systematically destroy the tumor cells, with minimal damage to adjacent healthy tissue.

Tetsuya Okamura, Senior Vice President and General Manager Industrial Equipment Division at Sumitomo, says: “We are very pleased to work with RaySearch in developing future technologies such as BNCT.  This is an emerging treatment method, and there is still a long way to go, but I believe our collaboration will accelerate commercialization of the modality and provide great benefits for cancer patients and hospitals.”

Johan Löf, CEO of RaySearch, says: “RaySearch is committed to supporting cutting-edge techniques and approaches that have the potential to improve cancer treatment. This agreement presents exciting new possibilities, and we look forward to exploring the clinical possibilities of BNCT together with Sumitomo.”

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