Leading European Center Begins Treatments Using Brachytherapy Devices and Software from Varian Medical Systems

PARIS, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- One of Europe's leading hospitals offering brachytherapy treatments for cancer patients has commenced treatments using three advanced computer-controlled afterloader devices and a full suite of planning software from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). French cancer patients will benefit from advanced brachytherapy treatments following the decision by Institute Gustave-Roussy (IGR) in Paris to install Varian's GammaMed™ PDR (pulsed dose rate) afterloaders to replace five aging low dose rate brachytherapy devices.

Dr. Christine Haie-Meder, head of brachytherapy at IGR, said three gynecological cancer patients had been treated on the new equipment so far. "These new devices and software enable us to increase our optimized 3D-based brachytherapy procedures, especially in gynecological tumors, as well as enabling us to replace low dose rate with pulsed dose rate treatments," said Dr. Haie-Meder. "For patients, this means we can potentially increase the quality of the treatments."

Brachytherapy involves treating cancer by temporarily placing radioactive sources within or adjacent to the tumor. Pulsed dose rate brachytherapy involves short pulses of radiation, typically once an hour, twenty-four hours per day, to simulate the overall rate and effectiveness of low dose rate treatments. Typical tumor sites treated by PDR brachytherapy are gynecological, head and neck, anal canal and penile cancers, as well as pediatric tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma.

One of the key factors in IGR's decision to acquire GammaMed afterloaders was the efficacy of Varian's brachytherapy software, including BrachyVision™ treatment planning software. "The software appears to be very easy-to-use and reliable and is ideal for MRI-based brachytherapy imaging," said Dr Haie-Meder. "We have a very modern approach to brachytherapy treatments with regular use of CT or MRI 3D-based dosimetry and optimization, and the Varian software will aid us in this approach."

"We are honored that clinicians at IGR, one of the world's leading brachytherapy centers, have confidence that Varian devices and software enable them to meet their high treatment standards," said Hosea Mitchell, VP of Varian BrachyTherapy.

IGR is one of Europe's leading exponents of brachytherapy, with a long history of treating patients using this technique. Over 450 patients are treated using brachytherapy at IGR each year, with a focus on gynecological, prostate, penile, head/neck, pediatric, breast, anal canal and bronchial cancers.

Brachytherapy is an extremely well established treatment technique which plays an essential role as a standard of care for advanced stage cervix cancer patients. This is a field in which Dr. Haie-Meder has particular expertise and has led many key developments in the technique as indicated by some of following publications:

Editorial contact: Neil Madle, Varian Medical Systems, +44 7786 526068, [email protected]

ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,100 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, China, and Europe and in its 79 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com/

SOURCE Varian Medical Systems, Inc.