SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated , a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that Neurosurgery, the official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, has issued a peer-reviewed supplement dedicated to CyberKnife radiosurgery experience.
The supplement, titled “CyberKnife Stereotactic Robotic Radiosurgery” features 15 papers from seven different countries, focused on brain and spine treatment using the CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System. All papers were subjected to thorough peer review by the editorial board of Neurosurgery and describe a wide range of CyberKnife treatment experiences. These papers highlight experience with the CyberKnife System from studies as large as 1,075 patients and for follow-up periods up to five years or more.
The benefits of the CyberKnife System’s ability to perform radiosurgery completely non-invasively, without the need for a head frame are highlighted in several of the papers, including one by Federico Colombo and colleagues, who reported on the treatment of 199 benign cranial tumors using CyberKnife radiosurgery delivered in two to five treatment sessions. Because the CyberKnife System does not require the use of a stabilizing head frame due to its continual image guidance and robotic capabilities, radiosurgery can be easily delivered in multiple treatment sessions. This is particularly important when targeting lesions close to sensitive critical structures.
Colombo and his associated authors obtained high rates of tumor control, even for large lesions and lesions near the sensitive brainstem and optic nerves, with low levels of treatment-related complications over an average 30- month follow-up. The authors estimate that the ability to treat in more than one session using the CyberKnife allowed them to treat more than 30 percent of patients that could not have been treated with single-session radiosurgery because the tumors were too large or too close to sensitive structures.
“The CyberKnife System has altered the way we think about what can be treated with radiosurgery. We would not have treated many of these patients using the previous single-session, frame-based procedure because of the high risk of complications,” said Federico Colombo, M.D., Director of the CyberKnife Center of Vicenza. “But by delivering treatment in two to five sessions, we were able to treat large lesions near sensitive structures, obtain excellent tumor control, and keep neurological complications to a minimum. In fact, in some of our patients, we were actually able to improve visual function, which we rarely see after single-session radiosurgery.”
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 , 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 50,000 patients worldwide and currently more than 155 systems have been installed in leading hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. 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 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: 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 2008 fiscal year, as updated from time to time 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.
CONTACT: Stephanie Tomei, Manager, Public Relations, Accuray Incorporated,
+1-408-789-4234, stomei@accuray.com; or Brianne Donohue of Schwartz
Communications, +1-415-817-2545, bdonahue@schwartz-pr.com, for Accuray
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Web site: http://www.accuray.com/
