In addition to IBA, Hitachi, Mevion, and Varian, P-Cure is one of a number of companies that are developing and selling compact systems. They promote a new type of proton therapy device that uses a mobile therapeutic chair instead of a rotating frame to manipulate radiation around a target. P-Cure’s CEO Michael Marash told HCB News that he believes the innovation will break down the price barrier for proton therapy devices.

Unlike traditional radiotherapy, which requires a curved treatment facility that provides radiation from different directions, proton therapy usually requires only two to three different angles of radiation to complete the treatment, so moving the patient instead of the radiation equipment to complete the treatment is a new approach to reduce the cost of equipment. "Companies that are very specialized in the X-ray field and want to apply their technology to proton therapy are missing the point." Marash said.

"Of course, some adjustments of the beam are necessary." "He added. P-cure believes that clinical needs can be met using pencil beam scanning, better imaging techniques and adaptive therapy.

For prostate cancer, P-Cure uses a treatment table instead of a chair, meaning it doesn't need to move during treatment. "Many proton centers use fixed beams instead of rotating racks to treat prostate cancer." Marash said.

P-Cure's proton therapy system, which will soon be commercially available, is about half the price of other compact proton therapy systems. Marash said the current price of a single-room proton therapy system is about the same as a large proton therapy system’s treatment room.

"The single-room proton therapy system reduces the cost of treatment room for proton centers. If the proton therapy system costs $25 million, and the construction cost costs $15 million, plus the acquisition of imaging equipment, you need $45 million to $50 million. Multiply that by four [four treatment rooms] and the total would be $200 million. That’s the package price for many traditional multi-room proton therapy system.” Marash said.

Marash said P-Cure's proton therapy system will significantly reduce the overall cost of setting up a multi-room proton therapy center because it does not require heavy racks while the system is similar in size to today's large linear accelerators. With all components included in the system, the internal area is only more than 100 square meters.

The system uses Philips CT technology to achieve high accuracy. "Using Philips CT allows us to observe lesions in real time prior to treatment and adjust treatment plans based on changes in lesions." Marash said.

P-Cure has already signed a number of contracts, but Marash couldn't reveal any details yet. He and his team hope to increase the availability of proton therapy by reducing the cost of the equipment and making the technology available to more patients.

"Our goal is to provide all radiation oncologists with the most space-saving system. Eventually, image-guided X-ray therapy will cost the same as image-guided proton therapy. In this way,  hospitals can put image-guided X-ray therapy in one room while P-Cure system in another, and not have to think about which one is better, but which treatment is the best for patients.” Marash said.