Hadassah Medical Center in Israel has completed treatment of its first cohort of pediatric patients using a gantry-less, upright proton therapy system developed by P-Cure.

The initial group included 10 children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 18, treated for a range of complex cancers including retinoblastoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and other tumors requiring craniospinal irradiation. Treatments were delivered in a single-room vault comparable in size to those used for traditional linear accelerators.

The upright positioning system, designed to accommodate both conscious and anesthetized patients, was used in conjunction with image-guided workflows and daily verification imaging. According to Hadassah, all patients completed their courses without interruption or significant acute toxicity.
“This early clinical experience demonstrates that gantry-less proton therapy is not only an economic and infrastructure-efficient solution, but a clinically robust approach capable of treating the most delicate pediatric cases,” said professor Aron Popovtzer, director of the Sharett Institute of Oncology at Hadassah.

The system’s upright orientation — often inclined for comfort — was noted to aid in patient immobilization and anesthesia management, both considered critical challenges in pediatric radiation therapy.

P-Cure’s system is designed to fit within standard radiation therapy departments by eliminating the need for rotating gantries or large, multiroom installations. The treatment room integrates robotic positioning, in-room volumetric imaging, and treatment planning into a compact footprint.

“Pediatric proton therapy demands the highest level of accuracy and safety,” said Prof. Zelig Tochner, chief medical officer of P-Cure. “This experience shows that a compact, gantry-less system can deliver IMPT, craniospinal irradiation, and complex pediatric treatments with precision comparable to large multiroom facilities.”

Hadassah plans to continue expanding its use of the system for both pediatric and adult indications as part of an ongoing clinical evaluation.

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