January 31, 2014 — UPMC CancerCenter radiation oncologists have begun to treat cancer patients with the newest generation CyberKnife System. The radiosurgery system enables physicians to more precisely shape radiation beams to tumors, maximize dose delivered while maintaining health of surrounding tissue intact and decrease length of treatments. UPMC CancerCenter performs about 550 cases a year with the CyberKnife System.
The newest-generation CyberKnife System, known as the M6, is being used at the Mary Hillman Jennings Radiation Oncology Center at UPMC Shadyside and is one of five currently in use in the United States. The first patient at UPMC treated using the CyberKnife M6 System in October 2013 experienced a 50 percent reduction in treatment time. About 80 patients have been treated so far using the new system.
Treatment with the M6 is typically completed in one to five days and requires no anesthesia or recovery time. The system also can track for tumor movement and automatically correct for motion throughout treatment so patients don’t need to be repositioned on the treatment table.
“We are excited to be able to offer patients in western Pennsylvania the most advanced cancer treatment options available,” said Dwight E. Heron, M.D., director of Radiation Services, UPMC CancerCenter, and vice chairman of radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. “The new CyberKnife System is another tool we have that can ensure we are delivering the most precise, personalized and best treatment available.”
Accuray Inc.’s CyberKnife M6 System has an Iris Collimator to allow radiation delivery in different sized beams from each treatment position without harming surrounding healthy tissue. Along with the device’s robotic arm, this feature enables eligibility for more patients with difficult-to-treat tumors. UPMC plans to implement the multileaf collimator on the Cyberknife M6 System to allow for even more precise delivery of radiation by shaping radiation to the form of the tumor.
For more information: www.upmccancercenter.com
July 31, 2024 
