University of Oklahoma Cancer Center Begins First Proton Therapy Treatments

Stephenson Cancer Center is one of three locations in the world with Mevion’s S250i system with Hyperscan pencil beam scanning technology

Home to the largest and most comprehensive radiation therapy program in Oklahoma, the Stephenson Cancer Center at OU (The University of Oklahoma) Medicine has commenced proton therapy treatments with the Mevion S250i Proton Therapy System with Hyperscan Pencil Beam Scanning. Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017, Hyperscan improves on existing scanning capabilities to deliver conformal fields of therapeutic radiation to tumors faster with more precision.

“We are excited to offer our patients this advanced radiation therapy,” said Terence Herman, M.D., radiation oncologist at the Stephenson Cancer Center. “We provide a full range of treatment options, which ensures patients can stay in Oklahoma to receive the best possible care. Proton therapy is yet another important tool we can use in the fight against cancer, and the Mevion Hyperscan system provides a level of precision that far exceeds that of earlier, non-focused proton treatment techniques.”

As part of OU Medicine’s National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, the single-room compact proton system is embedded directly into the radiation oncology department. This efficient approach enables the cancer center to share existing resources and give patients access to OU Medicine’s robust collection of cancer-fighting therapies under one roof.

OU Medicine anticipates using the new system to treat brain tumors, select head-and-neck tumors, abdominal tumors such as pancreatic cancer, some rare neural tumors, localized prostate cancer and essentially all tumors in pediatric patients. Several research projects are planned as well.