CyberKnife Radiosurgery Used to Treat Lung Tumors at 90 Percent of Centers Worldwide

March 26, 2008 at 8:32 AM EDT

More Than 5,000 Lung Cancer Patients Treated With CyberKnife System to Date

SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that approximately 90 percent of CyberKnife centers worldwide are now treating lung cancer with the CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System*. The number of lung cancer patients is growing significantly as well, with more than 5,000 individuals receiving CyberKnife treatments 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 treatment of lung cancer. The CyberKnife System's unparalleled accuracy allows me to offer an effective, non-invasive treatment 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(R) Respiratory Tracking System and Xsight(R) 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 treatments 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 treatments involving the head and neck.

* This statistic excludes Systems in Japan, where whole-body radiosurgery is not yet approved by regulatory authorities.

About the CyberKnife(R) 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 40,000 patients worldwide and currently more than 125 systems have been installed in leading hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.accuray.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the medical device industry. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release as to procedure growth, market acceptance, clinical studies, regulatory review and approval, and commercialization of products are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make include: procedure growth, market acceptance of products; competing products, the combination of our products with complementary technology; and other risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in our report on Form 10-K for the 2007 fiscal year, as updated from time to time by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results of operations may differ significantly from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements as a result of these and other factors. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Accuray Incorporated
03/26/2008
CONTACT: Susan Lehman of Rockpoint Public Relations, +1-510-832-6006,
susan@rockpointpr.com, for Accuray Incorporated; or Stephanie Tomei, Public
Relations Manager of Accuray Incorporated, +1-408-789-4234,
stomei@accuray.com
Web site: http://www.accuray.com