Intraoperative Radiation Therapy Helps Battle Cancer

An intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy (IOERT) device used for cancer treatment offers better local tumor control, shorter treatment cycles, fewer side effects, and increased survival rates.

The Mobetron is a fully portable, self-shielding electron-beam linear accelerator designed to deliver IOERT at the time of cancer surgery, in any operating room (OR). With the aid of the Mobetron, radiation and surgical oncologists can pinpoint the exact area that requires radiation and immediately deliver high doses directly to the affected tissue during cancer surgery. The Mobetron design uses lightweight components so that the accelerator can be mounted to an adjustable C-arm system. Hospitals can wheel the Mobetron between existing OR's without investing in costly renovations to accommodate traditional radiation therapy devices. Since the beam collimator is aligned to the linear accelerator utilizing a laser system, the sterile environment of the operative field is maintained.

The Mobetron uses proprietary 9000 megahertz (MHz) X-band technology to generate electron beams. The maximum electron energy is only 12 Million Electron Volts (12 MeV), which is sufficient penetration to effectively treat more than 90% of current IOERT patients. A beamstopper is mounted opposite to the accelerator to intercept radiation produced in the forward direction. The design of the accelerator and treatment applicators, in combination with the lead beamstopper below the surgical table, allow the Mobetron to operate without additional shielding in the operating room. The Mobetron was developed by IntraOp Medical Corporation (Sunnyvale, CA, USA).

"The Mobetron allows us much more flexibility in the delivery of IOERT. In most cases, the Mobetron can be moved over the patient rather than moving the patient to the linear accelerator,” said Dr. John C. Grecula, a radiation oncologist at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (The James, Columbus, OH, USA). "This not only speeds up the delivery process but also increases the safety for the patient.”

IOERT is used to treat a variety of solid tumor cancers. Whether a particular cancer will benefit from IORT treatment will depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, the stage of the tumor, the tumor resectability, the extent of the disease, and any previous treatment, which may have been received. For any particular tumor, it is essential to discuss the merits of including IOERT as part of the cancer treatment program with a experienced oncologist.


Related Links:
IntraOp Medical Corporation
The James