Nucletron Showcases Five Innovations in Cancer Treatment at ESTRO

VEENENDAAL, the Netherlands, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nucletron, a leading provider of state-of-the-art radiotherapy solutions for cancer treatment will feature five new innovations at the ESTRO Anniversary Congress, May 8-11 in London, all designed to meet the growing interest and need to more effectively treat a wide variety of cancers. In addition, as one of the first industry partners with the organization, Nucletron will be celebrating its long collaboration with ESTRO on its 30th anniversary.

"2011 is the Year of Radiotherapy in the UK, and there is no better location than London for ESTRO to hold this year's meeting and commemorate its 30th anniversary. Nucletron is proud of our long term partnership with ESTRO, and we're looking forward to working with the organization and its members to further advance the important role of radiotherapy, in particular brachytherapy, in the multimodality treatment of cancer," said Jos Lamers, CEO of Nucletron. "Our commitment to product innovation, professional education, and raising awareness of the benefits of brachytherapy - all aimed at ensuring patient access to quality cancer care - will highlight Nucletron's presence at this year's meeting," he added.

Nucletron will feature five innovative products and solutions at this year's meeting, all of which were developed with the needs of the modern radiotherapy department for speed, efficiency, accuracy and quality in mind. Awareness of brachytherapy will also receive special attention, with the presentation of a range of awareness and educational materials.

The Vaginal CT/MR Multi Channel Applicator (VCMC) is the first Precise Dose Delivery Solution (PDDS(TM)) for treating gynecologic cancers. The VCMC features a unique design of multiple channels which are curved in the tip of the applicator, and which can be loaded selectively. This provides accurate precision and dose direction, bringing dosimetry measurably closer to the vaginal wall. The VCMC is easy to assemble, clean & sterilize, thus providing economical treatment and optimized day-to-day utilization. This new addition to Nucletron's range of innovative applicators allows healthcare providers to tackle more complex or advanced endometrial and other gynecological cancers. The recent PORTEC (Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Endometrial Carcinoma) 2 study highlighted the benefits of vaginal brachytherapy versus external beam radiotherapy, in particular significantly lower toxicity and superior QOL outcomes. Delivering the dose where it is most needed, a key aspect of brachytherapy in sparing healthy tissue and reducing treatment toxicity, makes this unique CT/MR-compatible applicator a logical solution in response to the demands of modern gynecologic radiotherapy.

Nucletron's Prostate Solutions represent a seamless, all-in-one solution that addresses clinical needs, whether these call for low dose rate (LDR or "seeds"), High Dose Rate (HDR) or both. This all-in-one solution is the only one to cover both HDR & LDR in one software configuration. It combines dynamic treatment planning and delivery with advanced robotic accuracy, thereby improving clinical outcomes in patients undergoing prostate brachytherapy. Built around the latest state-of-the-art Oncentra(R) software, each solution integrates ultrasound technology allowing optimal control over the treatment process. Nucletron's advanced Robotic Seed Delivery technology guarantees reliable, reproducible and precise treatment. The unique combination of dynamic treatment planning and delivery with advanced robotic accuracy helps health care professionals improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing prostate brachytherapy.

Nucletron will also be showcasing the latest version of its brachytherapy treatment planning solution Oncentra (R) Brachy. Developed with the needs of the busy radiotherapy department in mind and with a focus on shortening workflows, it combines up to 50% reduction in planning times with exemplary treatment planning accuracy. Key components of Oncentra Brachy 4.0 are library plans and GYN applicator models, the first in a series of applicator models. The ability to automatically reconstruct exact applicator geometry from a 3D library eliminates the uncertainty of individual interpretation and assures placement precision. Furthermore, the new libraries and automatic reconstruction can dramatically reduce the time needed for planning, without compromising on quality. This latest edition of Nucletron's advanced brachytherapy software also addresses the call for reproducibility, leveraging applicator models and library plans to ensure consistency, be it between fractions or between users.

Nucletron's commitment to external beam treatment planning will also be very much on show, with two leading edge solutions.

The first, the latest release of Oncentra External Beam, intelligently automates routine planning tasks and increases patient throughput. Speed is very much of the essence with the premier of Oncentra's GPU technology which dramatically speeds up dose calculation, reducing complex calculation times from hours to minutes for enhanced dose algorithms. Users of Oncentra External Beam 4.0 can now routinely have collapsed cone accuracy, in pencil beam times, and creating a 3D plan can take as little as 15 seconds. Oncentra connects to all treatment delivery systems. Its modular planning environment allows it to be used with a department's linear accelerator of choice and still benefit from the latest in planning tools and technology offered in this new version.

The second, Velocity, brings the best of modern radiotherapy - multiple modality, dose summation and adaptive planning - directly to the radiotherapy department. This innovative solution allows users to turn the sheer volume of data and complexity of today's radiotherapy directly to their advantage. A unique range of integration tools provides the ability to combine images from multiple modalities, integrate dose summation regardless of source, and apply adaptive contouring across multiple datasets with both accuracy and speed. Velocity eliminates repetitive and time-consuming segmentation tasks by leveraging proprietary anatomy atlases, significantly decreasing treatment planning time and complexity. This new solution provides the user with the full "patient" picture and the advantage of an accelerated workflow.

To learn more about these new innovations in precision cancer treatment, visit Nucletron during the ESTRO Anniversary Conference at booth 110.

Also, Nucletron will be hosting a brachytherapy awareness booth, numbered 490. As part of its commitment to radiotherapy, and brachytherapy in particular, Nucletron has developed a range of support materials for use with decision makers, health care professionals and patients. Both print and on-line resources have been designed to help professionals communicate key information about brachytherapy. Visit http://www.aboutbrachytherapy.com for additional information.

About Nucletron

Nucletron provides state of the art radiotherapy solutions for cancer treatment that meet the evolving needs of patients, their caregivers and healthcare professionals around the world. Nucletron has unmatched global leadership in brachytherapy, a very precise, highly effective and well-tolerated treatment option for healthcare providers, tailored to the needs of individual patients. We work with clinical teams to constantly improve and develop an innovative portfolio of integrated products, software and services that assures excellent patient outcomes. Headquartered in Veenendaal, The Netherlands, Nucletron employs more than 500 employees, with offices in 18 countries, and products available in more than 100 countries around the world. Please visit http://www.nucletron.com/ to learn more about our healthcare solutions.

About Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a high-precision radiation therapy in which the radiation source used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors is placed in or close to the tumor itself. Brachytherapy offers a precise, highly effective and well-tolerated treatment option tailored to the needs of individual patients. Using brachytherapy, healthcare providers can deliver a high radiation dose to the specific target area, minimizing exposure to nearby, healthy body tissues and organs. By treating cancer "from the inside-out" the risk of side effects is reduced, and treatment times are shorter. Find out more about brachytherapy at http://www.aboutbrachytherapy.com/

    
    For further information:

    Nucletron
    Mark van Braak
    Marketing Communications Manager
    Tel: +31-(0)-318-557-255
    mark.vanbraak@nl.nucletron.com

    Red Door Communications
    Phil Sheldon
    Office: +44-(0)208-392-8093
    psheldon@rdcomms.com