The new Los Angeles Proton Therapy Center (LAPTC; Montebello, CA, USA) will include a Mevion S250mx proton therapy system that will serve the Greater Los Angeles area as well as international patients.

The MEVION S250mx is a gantry-mounted proton accelerator that provides direct beam technology with highly stable, next-generation volumetric delivery capabilities. Novel HyperScan technology will help overcome pencil beam scanning uncertainties by delivering robust intensity modulated proton therapy treatment at hyper-speed. The system will be installed in a three room configuration, with each room fully independent and with its own proton accelerator, providing inherent redundancy and 100% facility uptime 365 days per year.

The core technology of the system is engineered to eliminate the time inefficiencies associated with beam lines, complex operations and typical, disruptive maintenance requirements. As a result, highly conformal and robust image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) treatments can be delivered safely in standard treatment intervals with no comprise to quality or throughput. The installation of the LAPTC system will take place in phases, with the first of the three rooms slated for late 2017.The MEVION S250mx is a product of Mevion Medical Systems (Littleton, MA, USA).

“The MEVION S250mx is unique in the industry because it allows cancer centers to phase-in the installation of a multi-room system as their patient volume increases,” said Joseph K. Jachinowski, President and CEO of Mevion Medical Systems. “By adding one room at a time, initial cash flow demands are lower and financial risk is reduced.”

“The Mevion S250mx was the optimal solution for our facility because it allows for a flexible, phased installation. Just as importantly, we continue to be impressed with the proven results of all of Mevion’s clinically operational systems, including Mevion’s industry-leading ramp-up time, high patient throughput, and low staffing and maintenance requirements,” said Charles Liu, president of the LAPTC. “The decision to select Mevion and its product solutions will allow us to consistently provide high-quality proton therapy to a large number of patients.”

Proton therapy is a precise form of radiotherapy (RT) that uses charged particles instead of X-rays. It can be a more effective form of treatment than conventional radiotherapy as it directs the RT more precisely, with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. Evidence is growing that protons can be effective in treating a number of cancers, in particular children and young people with brain tumors, for whom it appears to produce fewer side effects such as secondary cancers, growth deformity, hearing loss, and learning difficulties.

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