MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute have formed a collaboration to provide proton therapy for St. Jude patients. The announcement follows the approval of the first clinical study to evaluate the use of proton therapy for rare brain cancers in children younger than 3 years old.
Proton therapy is being studied as a way to reduce potential damage to healthy tissue that may result from conventional radiation therapy. This is especially important in treating children with brain and spinal tumors to potentially avoid interference with development, growth and cognitive functioning.
“Proton beam therapy is potentially of great importance to St. Jude and our patients,” said Dr. Joseph H. Laver, St. Jude executive vice president and clinical director. “Although most proton facilities operating in the U.S. recognize pediatrics as a major area of focus, there is very little meaningful data using this modality in children. Working with UF Proton Therapy Institute, we are well-positioned to answer key questions regarding this therapy for children with cancer.”
“It is central to our mission to realize the full potential of protons in the treatment of children,” said Dr. Nancy Mendenhall, medical director at UF Proton Therapy Institute. “In cooperation with St. Jude, we will have both clinical and research expertise to provide the best outcomes for patients and to create new knowledge that will guide the development of proton therapy for future patients.”
UF Proton Therapy Institute is one of only six proton therapy centers in the United States. Since opening in August 2006, UF Proton Therapy Institute has treated 100 pediatric patients.
University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute
University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to patient care, using radiation techniques that offer cancer patients the best chance of cure and the least chance of treatment-related side effects. Affiliated with the UF College of Medicine, the physician and physicist faculty are engaged in numerous clinical research protocols and technology development projects to determine the best roles and methods of delivery for proton therapy.
Wolfson Children’s Hospital
Wolfson Children’s Hospital is a not-for-profit 180-bed pediatric referral hospital serving children throughout Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia, the U.S. and from around the world. One of only two children’s hospitals in Florida to receive Magnet(TM) status for excellence in nursing care, Wolfson Children’s patient- and family-centered environment is specially designed for the care of children. Wolfson’s medical staff is comprised of dedicated physicians representing virtually all children’s medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties through its partnerships with Nemours Children’s Clinic, the University of Florida/Jacksonville and Mayo Clinic Florida.
CONTACT: Summer Freeman of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,
+1-901-595-3061, summer.freeman@stjude.org; or Theresa Makrush of the UF
Proton Therapy Institute, +1-904-798-3199, tmakrush@trsg.net
Web site: http://www.stjude.org/
http://www.nemours.org/
http://www.rmhjax.org//