A southern hemisphere first: Unlocking new dimensions in radiation oncology therapy 

Cancer patients are now benefiting from an advancement in radiation therapy with the introduction of a technology designed to enhance treatment precision while minimising radiation exposure to healthy tissues.

Driven by strong early results, Icon Cancer Centre Midland has become the first in the Southern Hemisphere – and only the third worldwide – to clinically treat patients using Varian’s, a Siemens Healthineers company, RapidArc Dynamic solution. This milestone represents a major leap forward in radiation therapy, particularly for breast and prostate cancer patients, by significantly improving treatment planning efficiency and safety.

Professor John Boyages AM, Icon Radiation Oncologist, who was involved in the early evaluation of RapidArc Dynamic’s plan quality, highlighted the clinical significance of this innovation.

“I’m really excited about this technology. We already have some of the best treatment plans I’ve seen in my 40-year career at Icon, and this has just taken it to another level. I’m blown away by the ability to curve radiation around healthy organs and reduce doses to tissues like the heart to very safe levels whilst giving the right doses to the cancer areas,” stated Professor Boyages.

The introduction of RapidArc Dynamic is expected to guide future dosimetry recommendations, particularly in complex breast and nodal studies. Its capability for automated planning, along with early successes in other disease sites, signals a potential shift in establishing it as a new standard of care in radiotherapy.

Mark Middleton OAM, CEO of Icon Group, emphasised the organisation’s dedication to advancing cancer care through strategic collaborations.

“We’re extremely proud of our long-term global partnership with Varian which has enabled us to be early adopters of new techniques and technologies. RapidArc Dynamic adds to our suite of advanced radiotherapy treatments and techniques across our global network and is another example of our commitment to bringing world-class treatments to more communities across the world,” said Middleton.

The technology has demonstrated impressive efficiencies, reducing breast radiotherapy planning times by up to 80% through advanced deterministic algorithms that automate key processes. This innovation streamlines treatment design, often reducing the number of arcs required from multiple to a single arc per plan.

Beyond efficiency, RapidArc Dynamic also reduces radiation exposure to critical organs. For instance, mean heart radiation doses have been reduced by an average of 22%, lowering the risk of side effects and improving patient quality of life.

Icon’s participation in Varian’s RapidArc Dynamic Consortium reinforces its commitment to continuous data collection and clinical assessment. Plans are in place to expand RapidArc Dynamic to more locations.

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