Full Body Radiosurgery Expands Treatment Options for Patients with Lung,
Prostate, Liver and Pancreatic Cancer
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray
Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery,
announced today that treatments of extracranial tumors using the
CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System increased by 38 percent worldwide
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. Specifically, during this
time, prostate treatment grew approximately 95 percent worldwide, while
lung, liver and pancreas treatments experienced double-digit growth.
The ability of the CyberKnife System to non-invasively target tumors
throughout the body with sub-millimeter accuracy is dramatically altering
how the medical community and patients view radiosurgery. Designed
originally for intracranial use, radiosurgery has long been an alternative
to brain surgery. Building on this well established concept, Accuray
extended the benefits of radiosurgery to other types of tumors, when the
CyberKnife System was cleared in 2001 by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration as the first -- and only -- dedicated radiosurgery system to
treat tumors anywhere in the body.
"The CyberKnife System allows us to treat a wide variety of cancer
patients -- from those who want to avoid the risks and long recovery time
associated with surgery to those who have no other options," said Irving D.
Kaplan, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Radiation Oncology at
Harvard Medical School and radiation oncologist at Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center in Boston, Mass. "Because it delivers high doses of
radiation with such accuracy, the CyberKnife System effectively targets
tumors while shortening treatment time, minimizing side effects and
allowing patients to resume their normal lifestyle almost immediately."
To date more than 300 peer-reviewed publications support the use of
CyberKnife radiosurgery for tumors throughout the body, including the
brain, spine, lung, liver, pancreas and prostate. Additionally, many
studies are currently underway to further explore the efficacy of the
System for various cancers.
Since its inception, the CyberKnife System has treated more than 50,000
patients, with approximately 34 percent of those patients -- nearly 17,000
individuals worldwide -- receiving treatment during fiscal year 2008.
During the past year, extracranial treatments have increased dramatically:
-- Prostate cancer -- During fiscal year 2008, the number of prostate
cancer patients treated grew approximately 95 percent worldwide to more
than 2,000 patients. In fact, more than half the patients ever treated for
prostate cancer were treated during the last fiscal year.
-- Lung cancer -- Treatment of lung cancer grew by 44 percent worldwide
year-over-year, surpassing more than 6,300 patients treated to date. Now,
more than 90 percent of CyberKnife centers around the world are treating
lung cancer.
-- Liver cancer -- The number of liver cancer treatments grew more than
70 percent worldwide during the last fiscal year, with the majority of
treatment taking place outside the United States. In the United States
alone, the CyberKnife System saw an increase of 52 percent in patients
during fiscal year 2008.
-- Pancreatic cancer -- There was a 15 percent increase in pancreatic
cancer treatment worldwide, exceeding more than 1000 patients treated to
date. In fact, the United States alone saw an increase of 70 percent growth
year over year.
"With a growing library of clinical studies underscoring the benefits
of CyberKnife radiosurgery in treating various cancers, it is clear we are
establishing a new paradigm for the radiosurgery market," said Euan S.
Thomson, Ph.D., president and CEO of Accuray. "As additional studies
examining long-term follow-up are completed and published, we believe these
figures will continue to grow significantly."
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 (Nasdaq: ARAY), 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 140 systems have
been installed in leading hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For
more information, please visit http://www.accuray.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
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 year ended June 30, 2008
as updated from time to time by our quarterly reports 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.
SOURCE Accuray Incorporated
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Related links:
http://www.accuray.com
CONTACT:
Susan Lehman of Rockpoint Public Relations,
+1-510-832-6006, susan@rockpointpr.com, for Accuray Incorporated;
or Stephanie Tomei, Public Relations Manager of Accuray
Incorporated, +1-408-789-4234, stomei@accuray.com
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