The "Proton Therapy Center Building" at China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) was recently inaugurated, with the ceremony led by Dr. Tsai Chang-Hai, Chairman of the CMU Healthcare System and its affiliated healthcare system. This center, the first of its kind in central Taiwan, marks a significant step for the hospital into international-level cancer treatment and is a new milestone for cancer care in the region.
CMUH is dedicated to patient-centered integrated healthcare, with a strong emphasis on cancer treatment. It boasts several cutting-edge medical technologies, including cell therapy, minimally invasive surgery, Da Vinci robotic surgery, and advancements in AI, stem cells, and exosomes. Proton therapy, a powerful tool in radiation treatment, has been in the works for over 20 years under Dr. Tsai's guidance. After visiting various medical centers in the US and Japan, planning for the proton therapy center began in 2012, with a contract signed with Varian in December 2019 for the latest ProBeam 360 system. The center is now officially operational.
Proton therapy is suitable for treating a variety of cancers, including but not limited to brain tumors, head and neck cancers, lung cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pediatric cancers. Its advantage lies in its precision in destroying cancer cells without harming surrounding critical organs. This high accuracy and low side-effect treatment allows patients to receive higher doses of radiation without increasing the risk to healthy tissues, thereby improving treatment outcomes, shortening treatment times, and reducing the risk of recurrence.
The Proton Therapy Center at CMUH is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including the new generation of superconducting cyclotron proton accelerators. These accelerators are characterized by high efficiency, high dose rates, and low power consumption. The 360-degree rotating gantry delivers proton beams with precision, utilizing advanced cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for accurate imaging and pencil beam scanning (PBS) technology to precisely target tumors.
CMUH has numerous partners in the field of cancer treatment, including the top-ranked MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Pennsylvania, and Washington University in the United States. Additionally, CMUH is a member of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group, which enables continuous improvement in medical technology through international collaboration.
Resource (mandarin): 中醫大附醫 啟用質子治療中心
