Accuray Symposium Puts Spotlight on Quality Assurance in Radiation Oncology at Joint AAPM/COMP Meeting

July 31, 2011 at 8:31 AM EDT
CyberKnife and TomoTherapy Systems Featured in more than 60 Abstracts

SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 31, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), the premier radiation oncology company, announced today that it will showcase the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System and the TomoTherapy® Radiation Therapy Treatment System in the company's booths (#708, #809) at the 2011 Joint American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)/Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) Meeting. Accuray will also host a joint symposium examining best practices for quality assurance in radiation oncology. The 2011 Joint AAPM/COMP Meeting takes place July 31-August 4, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

On Monday, August 1 at 12:30 p.m. PDT, Accuray will host a symposium at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Star Sapphire Ballroom on "Best Quality Assurance Programs for Today's Radiation Oncology Platforms." Sonja Dieterich, Ph.D., DABR, chief of clinical physics at Stanford University School of Medicine, will discuss the protocols and recommendations of task group TG-135, which has been dedicated to setting QA standards in the field of robotic radiosurgery. Sasa Mutic, Ph.D., DABR chief of clinical medical physics and associate professor of radiation oncology at Washington University School of Medicine, will discuss how systems' engineering principles can be applied to radiotherapy quality assurance (QA) and quality compliance (QC). Attendees interested in participating in the symposium may register online.

In addition to the symposium, several studies from leading hospitals and academic centers will showcase both the CyberKnife System and the TomoTherapy System. Highlights from the more than 60 CyberKnife System and TomoTherapy-related topics from the conference include:

  • "Experience with Helical TomoTherapy Commissioning and Quality Assurance of Twin Peaks Linac vs. Earlier models"--Conducted at the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in Pomona, Calif., this study evaluated the new Twin Peak linear accelerator in the TomoTherapy System. Researchers found beam performance to be consistent with that of a treatment unit employing an earlier model of linear accelerator. Additionally, this study found that throughout nine months of clinical use no changes in beam characteristics were observed. The study concludes that the new linear accelerator represents an improvement in technology in terms of beam stability and in the lifetime of this system component.
  • "CyberKnife Treatment of Endometrial Cervical Cancer"--Conducted at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pa., this research investigated the potential use of the CyberKnife System for the treatment of cervical cancer as an alternative to brachytherapy, an invasive and often painful treatment option. As the authors state, this study demonstrated that CyberKnife treatment can be a viable alternative to endometrial brachytherapy treatments, which may greatly improve the patient care.
  • "CyberKnife Treatment for Early Stage Oral Tongue Cancer - Feasibility Study"--Conducted at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pa., this study evaluated use of the CyberKnife System to treat oral tongue cancer. The treatment planning study found that the CyberKnife System could deliver conformal dose in 5 fractions that kept radiation dose to the mandible low, providing patients with a more comfortable and less invasive alternative to conventional brachytherapy. Authors estimate treatment time will be 18 min/fraction.

"The quantity, quality and diversity of the CyberKnife and TomoTherapy abstracts accepted for presentation at the AAPM/COMP meeting reinforces growing recognition in the medical physicist community of Accuray's technologies," said Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Accuray. "These presentations point to positive results as well as new applications for both systems that further expand the number of patients who can benefit from the CyberKnife System and the TomoTherapy System."

Media interested in meeting with Accuray at the 2011 Joint AAPM/COMP Meeting can contact Marisa Borgasano or Brianne Donahue at Accuray@schwartzcomm.com or 781-684-0770.

About Accuray

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is the premier radiation oncology company. Accuray develops, manufactures and sells personalized, best-in-class treatment solutions that revolve around the patient. Accuray's game-changing technologies - the CyberKnife System and TomoTherapy Systems - set the standard of care with the aim of helping patients live longer, better lives. To date, more than 200,000 patients worldwide have been treated using the company's technologies and more than 550 systems have been installed in leading hospitals around the world. For more information, please visit www.accuray.com.

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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, including statements relating to clinical experience and market acceptance 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: range of treatment options, clinical applications, and market acceptance of products and other risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in our report on Form 10-K for our 2010 fiscal year, our form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2011 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.

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Euan Thomson

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SOURCE Accuray