Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Becomes First NHS Facility to Acquire a CyberKnife System

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in the United Kingdom has become the first National Health Service (NHS) hospital to acquire a CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System.

The NHS has grown to become the world's largest publicly funded health service. The system was born just over 60 years ago out of a long-held ideal that quality healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth – and that principle remains at its core. The NHS remains free at the point of use for anyone who is a resident in the United Kingdom – more than 60 million people – with only a few minor exceptions, and is funded centrally from national taxation.

"Patients have been very eager to see CyberKnife radiosurgery available through the National Health Service, so we are excited to soon be able to offer them this state-of-the-art form of cancer care," said  Dr. Peter Ostler, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and the Trust's Clinical Chair for Cancer Services. "The CyberKnife System will enable us to expand our radiation offerings to patients who may not have been able to tolerate other treatments or have medically or surgically inoperable tumors."

The CyberKnife System uses real-time tracking capabilities to deliver high-dose radiation to tumors with pin-point accuracy, including tumors that move with respiration. As a non-invasive treatment for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, the CyberKnife System does not require the use of stabilizing frames or uncomfortable breath holding techniques, making it an easy and comfortable experience for the patient. Treatments are typically completed in one to five days and patients can resume their normal activities immediately following treatment.

"Mount Vernon Cancer Centre has a strong reputation for cancer treatment, particularly using radiation, so it is great to see their treatment arsenal strengthened with the purchase of a CyberKnife System," said Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D., president and CEO of Accuray Incorporated. "We are proud to be working with the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and are very pleased with their recognition of the CyberKnife System's unique contributions in the treatment of cancer."  

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust manages four hospitals, including The Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. As one of the UK's top five cancer treatment centers, The Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, which is located in North-west London, provides specialist tertiary radiotherapy services, as well as a local chemotherapy service.

About the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre

The Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, managed by the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, has been based in Northwood, North-west London for many years and is a leading cancer center, treating around 5,000 new patients per annum. More than 3,000 new patients a year are treated with radiotherapy, with an additional 1,500 receiving chemotherapy (mainly from people living closer to the cancer center). It serves a population of two million people living in North-west London, Hertfordshire and parts of the Thames Valley.  

About the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System

The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is the world's only robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body non-invasively. Using continual image guidance technology and computer controlled robotic mobility, the CyberKnife System automatically tracks, detects and corrects for tumor and patient movement in real-time throughout the treatment. This enables the CyberKnife System to deliver high-dose radiation with pinpoint precision, which minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue and eliminates the need for invasive head or body stabilization frames.

About Accuray

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a global leader in the field of radiosurgery dedicated to providing an improved quality of life and a non-surgical treatment option for those diagnosed with cancer. Accuray develops and markets the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, which extends the benefits of radiosurgery to include extracranial tumors, including those in the spine, lung, prostate, liver and pancreas. To date, the CyberKnife System has been used to treat more than 80,000 patients worldwide and currently more than 190 systems have been installed in leading hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.accuray.com.

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Euan Thomson, Ph.D.

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SOURCE Accuray