Atlantic Health System will soon have an advanced form of proton therapy for its cancer patients. The Morristown Medical Center is going to acquire and install a Mevion S250-FIT Proton Therapy System at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. The Mevion Medical Systems proton system is scheduled to be installed in 2025, and, once in use, will usher in a new era of cutting-edge radiation oncology services.
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation that targets tumors more precisely compared to conventional photon therapy.
A recent randomized clinical trial demonstrated that proton therapy achieved similar survival rates to traditional radiation therapy, but with fewer side effects in the treatment of head and neck cancers, meaning less malnutrition and feeding tube dependence for patients.
The Mevion S250-FIT offers Hyperscan Pencil Beam Scanning for Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy with a proton MLC; this ensures precise delivery of proton therapy, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. It also allows for upright patient positioning and a large-bore diagnostic CT from Leo Cancer Care that allows for real-time image guidance and adaptive therapy.
The collaboration between Atlantic Health and Mevion signifies a major achievement. Because of it, Atlantic Health is set to become one of the world’s pioneers in transforming a conventional linear accelerator vault to install the FIT proton therapy system. The FIT Proton Therapy System is the first and only full proton therapy system that can be seamlessly installed in an existing LINAC vault, significantly reducing the size, cost and complexity of proton therapy.
“Introducing proton therapy is a transformative step in advancing state-of-the-art cancer services for our patients,” Trish O’Keefe, senior vice president and chief nurse executive, Atlantic Health System, and president, Morristown Medical Center, said. “By providing our dedicated physicians, nurses and team members with the latest technologies, we continue to empower them to provide the highest-quality care to our patients, their families and our community.”
“We are excited to collaborate with Atlantic Health System in bringing the FIT proton therapy system to New Jersey,” Tina Yu, CEO and president of Mevion Medical Systems, said. “The unique conversion of the LINAC vault into a proton vault demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology in cancer care. We look forward to the positive impact this collaboration will bring to Morristown and its cancer patients.”
