Proton Therapy Arrives at Miami Cancer Institute

A 220-ton “Cyclotron” is the cornerstone of the only proton therapy
center in South Florida to offer pencil-beam scanning

MIAMI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida has welcomed the
future of cancer care with the arrival of its 220-ton proton therapy
cyclotron. As the cornerstone of the only proton therapy center in South
Florida to offer pencil beam scanning—the most precise form of proton
radiation treatment—the cyclotron’s milestone arrival ensures that
patients in the region and across Latin America and the Caribbean will
no longer need to travel far from home to access this cutting-edge
treatment. Proton therapy destroys cancer cells with highly-targeted
doses of radiation while avoiding healthy tissue and minimizing side
effects, making it particularly effective in treating childhood cancers
and adult cancers of the brain, liver and lung, as well as certain
left-sided breast cancers and prostate cancers. Proton therapy treatment
will be available at Miami Cancer Institute beginning in 2017.


“The arrival of the cyclotron signifies the beginning of the most
sophisticated cancer treatment technology in the history of our
organization,” said Brian E. Keeley, President and CEO of Baptist Health
South Florida. “This historic milestone is not just one for Baptist
Health to celebrate, but one for our entire community as we come
together in the fight against cancer.”

“This is the most cutting-edge proton therapy technology available,”
said Minesh Mehta, M.D., deputy director of the Miami Cancer Institute
and chief of radiation oncology. “It uses a pencil-beam approach,
allowing us to target more complicated tumors and, for most situations,
further decreases radiation exposure to normal tissues in comparison to
older proton techniques. That means that there is significantly less
damage to healthy tissue, a decrease in side effects and less chance of
a recurrence of cancer due to radiation exposure.”

The cyclotron began its 4,700-mile transatlantic journey from
Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, approximately two weeks ago. After arriving
into Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a flatbed truck operated
by two drivers made the overnight drive to Miami. By daylight, a 140
ton- gantry crane began to lift the cyclotron into its permanent home in
Miami Cancer Institute—the $430 million, state-of-the-art new facility
housed on the campus of Baptist Hospital of Miami. Miami Cancer
Institute is scheduled to open in 2016.

“The moment the proton therapy unit arrives and becomes operational, the
way we care for patients in South Florida changes,” said Michael J.
Zinner, M.D., founding CEO & executive medical director of Miami Cancer
Institute. “Miami Cancer Institute will be among the very few facilities
worldwide to provide every available radiation therapy technology all in
one location. Combined with our commitment to caring for patients from
their diagnosis, through their complex treatment and onto survivorship,
we ensure that we’re right alongside them and their families during this
journey.”

In March of 2015, Baptist Health South Florida signed an agreement with
IBA, the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the
treatment of cancer.

“We are very pleased that Miami Cancer Institute selected IBA as their
partner to bring the most advanced proton therapy to their patients in
South Florida as well as the Latin America region,” added Beth Klein,
president of IBA PT North America. “Our 30-plus years of experience
elicits confidence in our ability to support the swift construction and
installation of this equipment, which means providing faster access to
the technology for their patients.”

To learn more about proton therapy at Miami Cancer Institute, click here.

About Miami Cancer Institute

Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a
destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care,
exceptional patient experience, advanced clinical research and
state-of-the-art technology – including the first proton therapy center
in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. To accelerate its
mission of hope, caring and innovation, Miami Cancer Institute has
announced plans to join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a
dynamic partnership that will ultimately enable cancer patients to
access potential breakthrough therapies in South Florida. For more
information, visit MiamiCancerInstitute.com.

Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the
largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals
(Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital,
Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West
Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care
facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network
and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit,
faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300
affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized
as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and as one of
the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit
BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at
facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram
@BaptistHealthSF.

About Proton Therapy

Proton Therapy is a highly precise, targeted cancer radiotherapy
treatment. Compared to photons, protons deposit the majority of their
effective energy within a precisely controlled range, directly within
the tumor, sparing healthy surrounding tissue. This technique offers
cancer centers the opportunity to develop new protocols delivering
higher doses to the tumor aiming at improved outcome for equal risk of
side-effects, or keeping the same dose but targeting improved patient’s
quality of life. Today, more than half of all proton therapy clinical
facilities worldwide are equipped with IBA systems. This includes 20
proton therapy centers currently in operation and 18 additional centers
under development. While proton therapy today represents less than 1% of
radiotherapy treatments, studies estimate that more than 20% of patients
treated by radiotherapy would benefit from being treated by this
technique.

About IBA

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a global medical technology company
focused on bringing integrated and innovative solutions for the
diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company is the worldwide
technology leader in the field of proton therapy, the most advanced form
of radiation therapy available today. IBA’s proton therapy solutions are
flexible and adaptable, allowing customers to choose from universal
full-scale proton therapy centers as well as compact, single room
systems. In addition, IBA also has a radiation dosimetry business and
develops particle accelerators for the medical world and industry.

Headquartered in Belgium and employing about 1200 people worldwide, IBA
has installed systems across the world, from Europe and the US to
emerging markets. IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange
EURONEXT. (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB). More information
can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com

Contacts

Miami Cancer Institute
Victoria Seremeta, 786-596-6534
victoriase@baptisthealth.net
or
Georgi
Morales Pipkin, 786-596-6534
georgip@baptisthealth.net

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