NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York
Proton Center, the first proton therapy facility to open in
New York State, has begun treating
patients. The center's unique consortium of partners, comprised of
three leading New York City health
systems—Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Montefiore
Health System and Mount Sinai Health System—began sending patients
to the state-of-the-art East Harlem facility in August. Those who
receive treatment at the center will have access to top-quality
care from an experienced clinical team of proton therapy-trained
specialists leveraging the most advanced radiation technology in
the world.
The New York Proton Center is projected to treat approximately
1,400 patients annually, receiving patients from its consortium
partner institutions and those throughout the New York metro area and beyond who are looking
for the most effective radiation care possible. The majority of
children in New York City with
solid tumors will be treated at the center due to the particular
effectiveness proton therapy has shown in reducing side effects for
pediatric patients.
"Our goal is to deliver the highest standard of treatment
possible, ensuring a seamless patient experience by handling all of
the details for those under our care," said Dr. Charles Simone, FACRO, Chief Medical Officer at
the New York Proton Center. "We coordinate every patient's care
with their oncologist, tailoring treatment to the individual, and
provide all patients with onsite services to improve their
treatment experience, including a complimentary concierge program,
nurse navigators, social services, and nutritional support. With
clinical expertise from nationally regarded health systems and
state-of-the-art proton beam technology, we have all the resources
we need to significantly improve the quality of life for our
patients."
The most precise form of cancer radiation treatment currently
available, proton therapy spares patients the side-effects
experienced with traditional radiation therapy by more precisely
targeting tumors and minimizing damage to surrounding organs and
tissue. It has proven highly effective in treating a range of
cancers, all of which will be treated at the New York Proton
Center, including brain and spine tumors, head and neck tumors,
breast cancer, lung and other thoracic cancers, gastrointestinal
cancers, sarcomas, gynecologic cancers, prostate cancer, lymphomas
and recurrent cancers.
Previously, proton therapy patients in the New York metro area were most commonly
referred to out-of-state facilities. The opening of the New York
Proton Center now gives patients in the New York metro area a new, more convenient
option to receive proton therapy.
Nearly all patients will be given the opportunity to enroll in
clinical studies as part of the New York Proton Center's
first-of-its-kind research program, which aims to further the body
of clinical evidence advancing proton therapy as a critical
treatment for complex tumors and difficult-to-treat cases. Unique
among the 31 proton centers in operation across the U.S., the New
York Proton Center will lead research efforts as an autonomous
entity separate from, although guided by, its affiliate partners.
Led by the center's Director of Research, Dr. Isabelle Choi, three randomized phase III
studies will begin this fall, evaluating the use of proton therapy
in treating breast, prostate and head and neck cancers.
"We are thrilled that our patients now have access to one of
the most advanced proton centers in the world," said Dr.
Simon Powell, Chair of Radiation
Oncology at MSK. "The incredible team that came together to
create this center has seen firsthand the power of proton therapy
to change people's lives, and we're proud to begin serving patients
in the New York region and
beyond."
"Our goal is to increase the number of therapeutic
options for our patients, but also expand the body of research into
proton therapy so we can determine who will benefit the most from
this novel treatment," said Dr. Shalom
Kalnicki, FACRO, professor and chair, Radiation Oncology,
Montefiore Health System and Albert
Einstein College of Medicine. "We look forward to
partnering with our patients and their families so each person who
walks through our doors gets the most advanced, personalized care
possible."
"For years, we've been grateful to our partners at the
ProCure Center in New Jersey, but
we never lost sight of the necessity for a facility of our own here
in New York," said Dr.
Kenneth Rosenzweig, Chair of
Radiation Oncology at Mount Sinai.
"We've assembled an unprecedented team of 23 proton
therapy-trained radiation oncologists to deliver a first-class care
experience for our patients, and we're complementing that care with
a robust, practice-defining research program."
"The beginning of patient treatment at the center marks the
culmination of a nearly decade-long development process," said
Allan Freeman, the New York Proton
Center's Chief Executive Officer. "It's an exciting moment for
those of us who have dedicated ourselves to bringing this project
to fruition. With the guidance and support of Memorial Sloan
Kettering, Montefiore and Mount
Sinai, we look forward to meeting the demand in this region
for this cutting-edge treatment."
The center will be one of the few worldwide that is equipped
with the newest and most effective proton therapy technology,
provided by globally renowned Varian Medical Systems, the worldwide
leader in developing multidisciplinary, integrated cancer
solutions. Treatments will be enhanced by pencil beam scanning,
which allows physicians to maximize radiation directly to tumors,
and with volumetric imaging, which helps them precisely identify
and target cancers to millimeter accuracy.
"Innovative technology is key to enhancing our ability to
treat cancer," said Kolleen
Kennedy, President, Proton Solutions and Chief Growth
Officer at Varian. "Just as the science of treatment is
constantly changing, so is the effectiveness of the mechanisms by
which we deliver care. Varian prides itself on creating
industry-leading equipment, and we are grateful for the opportunity
to collaborate with such a premier team at the New York Proton
Center."
For additional information, please visit www.nyproton.com. High
resolution images of the center are also available.
About the New York Proton Center
The New York Proton
Center is creating the gold standard for proton therapy, giving new
hope to patients living with cancer. In partnership with leading
academic medical centers—Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,
Montefiore Health System, Mount Sinai Health System, and ProHEALTH
as manager—the New York Proton Center brings together expert
oncologists, clinical care teams, and researchers to improve cancer
care and advance the clinical evidence for proton therapy.
Contact:
Nathaniel Goehring
nathaniel.Goehring@berlinrosen.com
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SOURCE New York Proton Center