Mercy Medical Center Enhances Prostate Cancer Treatment with Varian TrueBeam Technology

Mercy Medical Center has upgraded its treatment capabilities for prostate cancer by enhancing its Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy system. This advancement allows for highly precise stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which can be completed in as few as five treatment sessions for appropriately selected patients.

The TrueBeam technology integrates image guidance with focused radiation delivery to effectively target the prostate while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Mercy’s system is capable of providing image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), SBRT, volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and other advanced treatment modalities.

Dr. Kelly Orwat, Director of Radiation Oncology at Mercy, emphasized the system's ability to target tumors with millimeter precision and deliver high-dose treatments in shorter sessions. "The evolution of radiation technology has given us an extraordinary ability to be precise," Dr. Orwat noted. "With prostate SBRT, we're delivering a very high dose to a very specific target, so our ability to see the treatment area, account for positioning and carefully shape the radiation dose is extremely important."

Dr. Orwat’s extensive experience with advanced radiation technologies, including the CyberKnife system and linear accelerators, enhances her understanding and application of these sophisticated treatment platforms. She stated, "What is exciting about TrueBeam is the way it brings together highly sophisticated imaging, radiation delivery, and treatment planning in one platform."

Positioning challenges arise in treating prostate cancer due to the organ's proximity to the bladder and rectum, which can shift during treatment. The TrueBeam system includes onboard imaging capabilities allowing the treatment team to accurately localize the prostate and adjust as necessary. "The prostate is not a completely stationary target. That is why image guidance and motion management are so important," Dr. Orwat explained.

Furthermore, Dr. Kai Dou, Senior Medical Physicist at Mercy, highlighted the use of fiducial marker tracking, where tiny gold markers are placed in the prostate to improve the accuracy of radiation delivery. Research has validated TrueBeam’s efficacy in monitoring prostate motion during SBRT, ensuring that treatment adapts to any displacement.

The TrueBeam system also enables the efficient delivery of SBRT through VMAT, where the linear accelerator rotates around the patient while modulating the radiation beam from multiple angles.

Significantly, SBRT reduces the treatment duration to five sessions over approximately two weeks instead of daily treatments over a longer period. Dr. Orwat reiterated the importance of patient selection, stating, "For patients who are candidates for SBRT, five treatments can make a tremendous difference in terms of convenience."

Mercy Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology department collaborates closely with Urology Specialists of Maryland, allowing for a multidisciplinary approach to prostate cancer care. This collaboration ensures that patients receive well-informed treatment decisions tailored to their unique conditions and preferences.

Mercy’s Radiation Oncology is accredited by the American College of Radiology Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation Program, validating its commitment to quality and safety in cancer treatment.