CyberKnife Radiosurgery Used To Treat Lung Tumors At 90% Of Centers Worldwide

Accuray Incorporated announced that approximately 90 percent of CyberKnife centers worldwide are now treating lung cancer with the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System. The number of lung cancer patients is growing significantly as well, with more than 5,000 individuals receiving CyberKnife treaents to date.

Lung cancer deaths are predicted to increase dramatically, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Lung cancer is expected to become more prominent in the underdeveloped world as a result of an anticipated rise in the use of tobacco products, which is the primary cause of approximately 80 percent of all lung cancer. The WHO "Report On The Global Tobacco Epidemic" projects that lung cancer incidence will increase from 18 million cases in the 20th century to 180 million cases in the 21st century worldwide. The majority of lung cancer cases are expected to be concentrated in 10 countries: China (30 percent of all cases), India (10 percent), Indonesia, Russia, the United States, Japan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Germany and Turkey.

"CyberKnife represents an important advance in the treaent of lung cancer. The CyberKnife System's unparalleled accuracy allows me to offer an effective, non-invasive treaent option for patients with early-stage lung cancer who are not good candidates for surgery," Richard Whyte, M.D., professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University Medical Center.

In many cases, patients with lung cancer also suffer from other medical conditions that could preclude them from eligibility for surgery to remove the tumors. The CyberKnife System gives doctors a new tool for attacking lung cancer without surgery. Combined with Accuray's Synchrony Respiratory Tracking System and Xsight Lung Tracking System, the CyberKnife System enables physicians to deliver radiation accurately, even while the patient breathes normally, and reduces the risk of damaging surrounding healthy tissues and critical structures. Because no actual surgery is needed, the CyberKnife is often a viable alternative for patients previously considered medically inoperable, and can be done on an outpatient basis.

"The CyberKnife System is giving new hope to lung cancer patients who may not have had any other options in the past," said Eric P. Lindquist, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Accuray. "The CyberKnife System is well positioned to meet the growing need for lung cancer treaents as diagnoses of the disease are expected to increase exponentially around the world in the coming years."

CyberKnife centers in 12 countries are now treating lung cancer patients. The only country where the CyberKnife System is installed but not being used to treat lung cancer is Japan, where current regulatory approvals for the System are limited to treaents involving the head and neck.