For treatment of eye melanoma at PSI a new fixed beam room (OPTIS2) is in operation since 2010. An new Gantry (Gantry 2), which will be equipped with advanced scanning features (for the treatment of moving tumors with scanning) is in the commissioning phase and will be ready for patient treatment middle of 2013. The construction of an additional treatment room (Gantry 3), sponsored by the Canton of Zurich, was approved for realisation end of 2011. Gantry 3 will be ready in 2016 and mainly used for clinical research.
By end of 2011, about 800 patients
with deep seated tumors have been treated at the PSI Gantry 1, and since it has been in operation, more than 6000 patients with eye tumours have been treated in the PSI OPTIS
facilities (Optis and OPTIS2) by end of February 2013.
PSI treats tumors in
small children since middle of 2004. These children are anaesthetised so that they hold the
exact position necessary for the few minutes it takes for each fraction of proton irradiation.
More than 150 small children have been treated by end of 2012. For more information
about the treatment of small children under anesthesia with protons see also
here.
From pioneering
work to clinical practice
PSI has developed a special radiation procedure for the treatment of deep-seated
tumors: the spot-scanning technique. By using this technique, the advantages
of protons for cancer treatment (in comparison with modern conventional radiation
treatment using photons) can be exploited very efficiently. Healthy tissue
is particularly well protected and it is possible to adapt also intensity modulated radiation therapy with protons (IMPT) and to irradiate very large,
complex tumors, where there is no other comparable treatment. By end of 2012,
more than 800 patients have benefited with positive results from this treatment at Gantry 1.
Leading position
in radiation technology
The development of the very fast spot-scanning technique endows PSI with a leading position worldwide
in proton therapy. Co-operation and non-exclusive licensing contracts have been completed
with industrial companies to make it possible for hospitals to acquire
the PSI technique and knowledge. Several proton therapy centers are in operation, under construction,
or at the planning stage worldwide, most of the new facilities are prepared for the scanning technique, which was first developed at PSI. The ultrafast scanning technology developed by PSI for Gantry 2 will further enhance the technological lead of PSI in proton therapy. Gantry 3 will have similar features as Gantry 2.
Who can or should
be treated with proton therapy?
The selection
of patients for proton therapy is based on medical usefulness. That means
that proton therapy is expected to be of improved therapeutic benefit to the patients,
who are chosen in close collaboration with referral clinics and radiation therapy centers in
Switzerland and abroad. Tuday proton therapy at PSI is considered for treatment
of the following types of tumors:
• Meningiomas (benign and malignant),
• low-grade gliomas,
• cranial tumors and those in the ear, nose and throat area (ORL
tumors)
• tumors in the base of the skull and in ORL area
• chordomas
• chondrosarcomas and sarcomas
• pediatric tumors
• inter-ocular melanomas
In Switzerland the obligatory
health insurance will pay for treatment of these lesions.
In order to prepare a course
of treatment the team of doctors at PSI needs all available medical information,
including radiological documentation. Additionally the team works in close
contact with the patients’ doctors in a confidential exchange which
ensures continual and seamless patient care before and after the treatment with protons.
If you would like to contact
the Center for Proton Therapy at PSI the address is:
Paul Scherrer Institute
Center for Proton Therapy
CH - 5232 Villigen-PSI
Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)56 310 3524
Fax: +41 (0)56 310 3515
e-mail: protonentherapie@psi.ch
