Winthrop Selected As National Training Center

Due to its overwhelming success in the treatment of prostate cancer, the CyberKnife RadioSurgery Center at Winthrop-University Hospital - the only CyberKnife Center in the New York Metropolitan area - has been designated the National Training Center for CyberKnife treatment of prostate cancer by Accuray Inc., the global leader in radiosurgery that developed the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System.

As the National Training Center, Winthrop is attracting physicians, physician assistants, radiotherapists, urologists and other clinicians from across the United States, who desire CyberKnife training.

Through a full-day educational course that includes comprehensive training on the radiobiology of prostate cancer as well as practical clinical guidelines for treating the disease using the CyberKnife system, participants receive hands-on instruction from Winthrop's leading experts: Alan Katz, MD, Chief of the Division of Radiation Oncology; Matthew Witten, PhD, DABR, Director of Winthrop's CyberKnife Radiosurgery Center; Michael Santoro, MD, Attending Urologist; and James Matera, RRT, Technical Director of the Division of Radiation Oncology.

"We are excited to be the only Hospital in the United States to provide this training in order to advance the treatment of prostate cancer nationwide using the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System," said Dr. Witten.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. And, while an estimated 218,890 new cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States during 2007, CyberKnife is providing a landmark approach to treatment of the disease.

"CyberKnife is a revolutionary treatment for prostate cancer that delivers the most accurate radiation therapy using real-time, image-guided robotics," said Dr. Santoro. "The system's multi-jointed robotic arm delivers radiation therapy from multiple angles, providing a greater degree of accuracy in targeting tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue."

In addition to serving as a highly effective form of treatment for prostate cancer, CyberKnife has been approved by the FDA for treatment of tumors and lesions anywhere in the body where radiation therapy is indicated. Additional conditions amenable to CyberKnife treatment include lung, kidney, liver and pancreatic tumors; acoustic neuromas; recurrent and residual tumors; arteriovenous malformations (AVMs); and functional disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia.

"With CyberKnife, we can now access previously untreatable tumors throughout the body when radiation therapy is indicated," said Dr. Katz.

CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery is just one of the advanced treatment options offered by Winthrop's renowned Institute for Cancer Care. Certified by the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer, the Institute is recognized as a leader in superior quality cancer care, providing patients with the latest treatment regimens and cutting-edge therapies. From diagnosis through treatment and beyond, Winthrop's Institute for Cancer Care offers comprehensive programs including the unique Cancer Center for Kids, a state-of-the science facility where children are given the best possible chance of recovery and cure through superior medical care, constant nurturing and unconditional support in an environment that promotes healing.

For additional information about cancer care at Winthrop, call 1-866-WINTHROP.