New solution for ‘knifeless’ treatment of cancer

TrueBeam STx with Novalis® Radiosurgery Program, a new advanced radiotherapy cancer treatment system, is now available in Singapore. Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital is one of the first oncology providers to offer the new technology, which is a key feature of Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital’s new Radiation Oncology Centre.

Developed by Varian Medical Systems, TrueBeam STx uses radiation therapy to treat cancerous tumours in the body and brain, enabling doctors to deliver larger doses of radiation more safely, with greater accuracy and speed.

The system also enables a form of treatment - radiosurgery - to be performed, without the need to perform invasive surgery. Radiosurgery allows delivery of a high-dose radiation beam that is tailored to match the shape of the tumour while protecting sensitive surrounding structures.

“The TrueBeam system will enable us to deliver larger doses to tumours with precision,” says Dr Lee Kuo Ann, consultant radiation oncologist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. “We will be able to treat inoperable brain tumours, tumours that are close to the spinal cord, and tumours of the lung, liver, or pancreas, which are subject to respiratory motion during treatment.”

The TrueBeam STx System

The TrueBeam STx system was developed from the ground up to perform non-invasive, image-guided radiotherapy with accuracy. The system uses continuous frameless positioning, alignment control and patient positioning to allow the therapist to continuously track patient movement throughout the entire treatment. These capabilities are vital for consistent and accurate treatment delivery.

According to Dr Lee, TrueBeam STx is equipped with flattening filter free delivery, which makes treatment faster for patients receiving stereotactic body radiotherapy. “The reduced treatment time results in better patient comfort and accuracy, because patients are liable to move during longer treatment deliveries,” he says.

The TrueBeam STx system also makes gating possible, where movement of the tumour is continuously monitored during normal breathing, allowing for a smaller safety margin target around the tumour, Dr Lee explains. “Gating is used to turn on the radiation beam only during the part of the respiratory cycle when the tumour moves into a selected position so as to reduce treatment field size and hence side effects,” he says.  

TrueBeam’s High Intensity Mode allows physicians to deliver higher doses of radiation faster than earlier generations of technology. It incorporates a high-resolution beam-shaping device that shapes the treatment beam so that it matches the three-dimensional shape of the targeted tumour.

“With gating, the High Intensity Mode, and imaging technologies, we will be able to minimize the impact of treatment on healthy tissues,” says Dr Lee. “For example, during breast cancer treatments, we can reduce the radiation going to the heart and lungs.”

Dr Lee Kuo Ann is a Radiation Oncologist who has more than 8 years of experience in the field. He currently practises at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and specialises in the treatment of cancers with radiotherapy. Dr Lee has been published in a variety of local and international medical journals on topics such as Breast Cancer, Lymphoma and surgical treatment for Cerebral Metastases. 

Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
38 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329563
Tel: +65 6933 0128 (Radiation Oncology Centre)
www.mountelizabeth.com.sg