IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) announced that the newly opened Texas Center for Proton Therapy is now treating cancer patients, using image-guided Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS).
The 63,000-square-foot facility features a three-room Proteus PLUS proton therapy system consisting of one fixed-beam treatment room and two 360° isocentric gantry treatment rooms. Special care has been taken to incorporate an environmental-friendly design, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility, making Texas Center for Proton Therapy the first stand-alone LEED-Certified proton therapy center in the U.S.
PBS availability in all three rooms makes Texas Center for Proton Therapy the largest pencil beam proton center in the state. This highly-precise delivery modality allows for Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) and is furthermore supported by an on-board Cone Beam CT (CBCT) offering 3-D volumetric imaging. The configuration also includes some of the most advanced PET/CT and 3-Tesla MRI scanning and imaging technology available, as well as on-site lab services. A skilled staff, combining more than 70 years of proton experience, ensures optimal clinical use of this advanced technology.
The first gantry room is installed, and is equipped with a universal nozzle, allowing PBS, as well as Double Scattering (DS) treatment modes. The rigging was done on July 1st, 2014, the first patients being treated only 16 months later, three months in advance of the initial schedule. Treatment in the second gantry is anticipated in the 1st quarter of 2016.
Andrew K. Lee, M.D., M.P.H., medical director at Texas Center for Proton Therapy, commented: “The benefits of proton therapy for cancer treatment include the ability to treat cancer with utmost precision, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and enhancing quality of life for patients during and after treatment. New technologies from IBA allow us to better leverage this beneficial treatment, and a fully equipped center like this is an important boost to cancer treatment in Texas.”
Gary Barlow, director at Texas Center for Proton Therapy, commented: “Lacking any local access to proton therapy, residents of Dallas-Fort Worth previously had no choice but to travel if they wanted to benefit from this radiation treatment modality. We are thrilled to see our efforts fulfilled and patients benefitting from this advanced technology. We are looking forward to gradually building up our activities toward our full capacity to treat more than 100 patients a day.”
Olivier Legrain, IBA’s CEO, said: “It is our mission to make proton therapy accessible to every patient who can benefit from it. It is very satisfying to know that 6.5 million people will no longer need to travel long distances at great expense if they are in need of proton therapy treatment. IBA is proud to be a partner in bringing this advantageous treatment modality within their vicinity. Every new center treating patients is another battle won in the worldwide fight against cancer.”
Beth Klein, president of IBA Proton Therapy North America, adds: “IBA is proud to play a role in providing our state of the art technology to the physicians of Texas Center for Proton Therapy. We expect to see more collaborative partnerships in the future that provide the highest quality proton therapy treatment at a cost that ultimately may prove to be lower than conventional radiation therapy treatment for some cancers.”
For more information: www.TexasCenterforProtonTherapy.com
July 31, 2024 
