Over a thousand cancer patients in Almaty received successful therapy, according to the latest reports
The Almaty Oncological Center has recently introduced a new-generation linear accelerator (LINAC) into its radiation therapy department, bringing significant advancements to cancer treatment. This cutting-edge technology, integrated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRgRT), offers benefits such as real-time tumor visualization, adaptive treatment, and improved treatment accuracy.
Since its introduction on January 1, 2020, the LINAC has facilitated over 26,729 sessions of high-tech radiation therapy, serving approximately 70 city residents daily. This high-energy equipment has played a crucial role in the treatment of various types of cancer, providing more precise, intensive, and volumetric radiation therapy.
The LINAC's advanced technology enables real-time tumor monitoring during therapy, enabling adaptive planning that can adjust the radiation dose based on actual tumor position and motion. This precision reduces the irradiation of healthy tissues and minimizes toxicity. The availability of high-resolution imaging also allows for minimized planning target volume margins, enhancing the specificity of radiation delivery to cancer cells while sparing normal tissues.
Advances such as AI-driven auto-contouring and deep learning prediction models optimize workflow and reduce treatment time, improving patient throughput and comfort without compromising accuracy. New generation LINACs also enable advanced modalities like stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), which are effective for treating oligometastatic disease and improving outcomes in subsets of cancer patients.
The potential integration with novel therapeutic isotopes and targeted therapies further expands treatment paradigms. Accelerator platforms are facilitating production of therapeutic isotopes (e.g., actinium-225), paving the way for combined or sequential use of precision external beam radiation therapy and targeted alpha therapies.
The benefits of the new-generation LINAC are evident in the results seen by patients. Three months after treatment, patients have seen a reduction in the tumor site, up to its complete disappearance. There has also been a decrease in oncological marker levels for patients. For instance, an 81-year-old patient with 'B-cell large B-cell diffuse lymphoma' underwent radiation therapy, reducing the tumor volume from 675 ml to 110 ml and resolving pain syndrome. In four patients with intracranial metastases, there was a reduction in metastasis size from 3 cm to 0.4 cm after six months.
The incidence of post-radiation reactions and complications related to radiation therapy is low, and the quality of life for patients and their families has significantly improved due to the new radiation therapy treatments. The device directs a beam of charged particles directly to the tumor without affecting healthy tissues, ensuring minimal side effects.
As of the beginning of this year, 1259 patients have completed radiation treatment at the Almaty Oncological Center, marking a significant milestone in the centre's mission to provide high-quality, advanced cancer care. The VCP system, a paperless form of communication, used during the preparation and conduct of radiation therapy, further streamlines the process, ensuring efficient and effective treatment for all patients.
- The Almaty Oncological Center's use of a new-generation linear accelerator (LINAC) in medical-conditions like cancer has led to the application of high-energy, precision radiation therapy, helping in the treatment of various types of cancer.
- The LINAC's technologies, such as real-time tumor monitoring and AI-driven auto-contouring, contribute to improved health-and-wellness outcomes by reducing the irradiation of healthy tissues and minimizing toxicity.
- In the realm of therapies-and-treatments, advancements like the LINAC's potential integration with novel therapeutic isotopes and targeted therapies could further expand treatment paradigms, providing hope for patients battling cance.
