Accuray Inc. Release: Spinal Tumor Treatments With The CyberKnife(R) System Surge 75 Percent Since The Introduction Of The Xsight(TM) Spine Tracking System

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated, the global leader in the field of robotic radiosurgery, announced today that spinal tumor treatments with the CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System grew more than 75 percent since the introduction of the Xsight(TM) Spine Tracking System in April 2005. The results of two clinical studies presented this week in San Francisco at the American Association of Neurosurgeons (AANS) 2006 annual meeting serve as further support for the clinical effectiveness of the CyberKnife System for treating tumors in the spine.

Peter C. Gerszten, M.D., associate professor of neurological surgery and radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, presented the results of an 87 patient study evaluating the clinical efficacy of single- fraction radiosurgery for the treatment of spinal metastases from lung cancer. The results demonstrated that spinal tumor patients who underwent treatment with the CyberKnife System experienced long-term tumor control, with 90 percent of patients experiencing long-term pain reduction.

"My experience with the CyberKnife System leaves little doubt in my mind that this system is an important treatment option for patients with spinal tumors," said Dr. Gerszten. "We have known for some time that radiosurgery is an effective treatment for intracranial tumors. We can now offer an effective radiosurgery treatment option for our patients with spinal tumors, as well."

In addition, John Sinclair, M.D., division of neurosurgery, Ottawa Hospital, presented the results of a study using the CyberKnife System for the treatment of intramedullary spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) at Stanford University. Data showed that treating patients with spinal cord AVMs using the CyberKnife System resulted in significantly reducing the size of AVMs.

An important differentiating feature of the CyberKnife System for the treatment of spinal tumors is the Xsight Spine Tracking System. This system is a non-invasive tracking system that enables clinicians to more accurately and easily access and treat tumors in or near spinal structures without implanting radiographic markers or fiducials. The Xsight System complements the CyberKnife System's ability to treat tumors anywhere in the body with sub- millimeter accuracy. It relies on the unique bony anatomy of the spine to continuously track, detect and correct for tumor and patient movement along the spinal column.

"Studies such as Dr. Gerszten's and Dr. Sinclair's further confirm the effectiveness of the CyberKnife System to treat spinal tumors, providing a comfortable treatment alternative to patients while maintaining sub-millimeter accuracy," said Eric Lindquist, chief marketing officer of Accuray. "As the only robotic radiosurgery spinal tumor treatment option that doesn't require the placement of fiducials, clinicians are also embracing the efficiencies of the Accuray's Xsight System, which ultimately enables them to treat more patients than ever before."

About the CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System

The CyberKnife System is the world's first and only radiosurgery system that utilizes intelligent robotics to treat tumors anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy. The CyberKnife System treats patients in single or staged (typically 2-5) sessions by delivering multiple beams of precisely directed radiation that converge upon the tumor while minimizing injury to surrounding healthy tissue. Image guidance and computer controlled robotics combine to continuously track, detect and correct for tumor and patient movement throughout the treatment. Because of this extreme precision and accuracy, no head or body frame is required. The CyberKnife has proven to attract a new patient population to a physician's practice and complements existing radiation therapy, IMRT or IGRT programs.

About Accuray Inc.

Accuray Inc., a privately held company based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is the global leader in the field of robotic radiosurgery. Its CyberKnife System is the world's first and only intelligent robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy. More than 100 CyberKnife Systems have been purchased by leading medical centers throughout the world and a large body of peer-reviewed papers supports its clinical practice. To date, the CyberKnife has treated more than 20,000 patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.accuray.com.

For media inquiries, please contact Jeff Speer at jspeer@fischerhealth.com or 310-577-7870, ext. 156.

(C)2006 Accuray Incorporated. All rights reserved. Accuray, the Accuray logo, CyberKnife, Synchrony, Xsight and CyRIS are among trademarks or registered trademarks of Accuray Incorporated.

CONTACT: Jeff Speer, +1-310-577-7870, ext. 156, jspeer@fischerhealth.com,for Accuray Incorporated

Web site: http://www.accuray.com/