Stanford Medicine has discovered a novel tumour-targeting radiation therapy machine for cancer treatment.
This technology combines radiotherapy with PET (positron emission tomography) technology to directly target cancer cells in real-time and adjust radiation delivery accordingly.
The integration of PET technology allows for real-time tracking and adjustment of radiation delivery, potentially making radiation treatment faster and more precise. This can improve treatment efficiency and effectiveness.
With the ability to track moving tumours and adapt to their locations, patients may experience more comfortable and less invasive treatment. This is particularly beneficial for patients with irregular breathing patterns or challenging-to-treat tumours.
The precision offered by the PET-guided radiation therapy machine can reduce radiation exposure to healthy tissues, which, in turn, can help minimise side effects associated with traditional radiation therapy.
Unlike standard radiation therapy, which relies on static 3D representations of tumours and anatomy taken days to weeks before treatment, this machine provides continuous real-time data. This capability allows for more accurate targeting of radiation, sparing healthy cells and focusing on the most active areas of cancer.
This groundbreaking technology has the potential to revolutionise radiation therapy, offering a more patient-friendly and effective approach for treating cancer.
