St. Luke’s Global City launches next-gen TrueBeam radiotherapy system

St. Luke’s Medical Center–Global City has launched a next-generation TrueBeam radiotherapy system with four advanced technologies for more precise, faster cancer treatment. The system can cut radiation exposure to healthy tissue by up to 50 per cent and shorten some procedures from hours to minutes.

St. Luke’s Medical Center–Global City launched a next-generation TrueBeam radiotherapy system on 21 Sept, equipped with four advanced technologies designed to make cancer treatment more precise, faster and more comfortable for patients. The new system features HyperSight, RapidArc Dynamic, ExacTrac Dynamic and HyperArc, allowing radiation oncologists to deliver targeted radiation while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, the hospital said in a statement.

“It’s much safer for the patient and better in terms of total protection,” said Angela Peña-Camacho, radiation oncologist at St. Luke’s Global City. The enhanced TrueBeam platform can reduce radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues by as much as 50 per cent, the hospital said.

The system can treat a variety of cancers, including those affecting the brain, head and neck, lungs, breast, pelvis, skin and muscles, according to Ms. Peña-Camacho. Among its features is HyperArc, designed for patients with multiple brain lesions, allowing doctors to deliver high-dose radiation using a frameless thermoplastic mask instead of the head frames traditionally used in stereotactic radiosurgery.

Procedures that previously took three to four hours can now be completed in about 10 to 15 minutes, Ms. Peña-Camacho said. The system also includes ExacTrac Dynamic, which St. Luke’s described as the first of its kind in the country, using thermal surface and X-ray tracking to detect submillimetre movements during treatment. If a patient moves and alignment changes, the radiation beam automatically stops and resumes once proper alignment is restored.

HyperSight provides high-definition 3D images before each treatment session, cutting image acquisition time by half and providing clearer images to help doctors align patients and target tumours, the hospital said. RapidArc Dynamic combines real-time automated dynamic collimator rotation with volumetric modulated arc therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, allowing doctors to adjust the shape and intensity of radiation beams to complex tumours.

For breast cancer patients, treatment can incorporate deep-inspiration breath hold, in which patients take a deep breath to create greater separation between the heart and chest wall during radiation, potentially reducing radiation exposure to the heart. Treatment costs vary depending on the cancer site and treatment package, Ms. Peña-Camacho said, adding that procedures are covered by PhilHealth, with the hospital preparing treatment packages for different disease sites.

St. Luke’s Global City currently has an existing TrueBeam machine in addition to the newly launched system. The older machine can also be upgraded, while the new unit will be used for specialised procedures, particularly those involving the brain. The investment is part of the hospital’s efforts to make advanced cancer treatment available locally, Ms. Peña-Camacho said.