Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta treats 100th patient with Nucletron’s Fully Integrated Real-time Seed Treatment System (FIRST™System)

April 26 2005  

Treatment was performed in conjunction with Tom Baker hosting Clinical Workshop Program, “New Methods and Technology in Seed Brachytherapy”.

Veenendaal, The Netherlands,  –  Nucletron B.V., a global leader providing some of the world’s most innovative products and services for cancer treatment, congratulates the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Alberta, Canada on their 100^th successful prostate seed implant patient treatment utilizing Nucletron’s FIRST™ System. The FIRST™  System consists of the SPOT PRO™  3D ultra-sound planning system and seedSelectron™ , the automated afterloader for seeds and spacers.


Dr. Siraj Husain, Radiation Oncologist and Primary Investigator utilizing the FIRST™  System at Tom Baker for treating prostate cancer, stated “Intra-operative planning provides superior prostate coverage and is better than pre-planning for limiting dose to the urethra.  Intra-operative planning also results in superior coverage and increased dose to the prostate at the time of post-planning.  We find these dosimetric advantages at Tom Baker are due to the ability of the Nucletron FIRST™  System to adapt the plan to prostate volume and shape at the time of the implant.”


Nucletron’s FIRST™  System is a unique and complete system for the delivery of permanent seed implants to the prostate.  It is the only system on the market that addresses the entire process of seed implant delivery: from real-time dose planning in the operating suite, to real-time customized seed delivery, to post planning. This system benefits both experienced and starting clinicians by providing improved visualization and optimized inverse planning tools.


The centennial treatment occurred in conjunction with a clinical workshop conducted by Tom Baker Cancer Centre, “New Methods and Technology in Seeds Brachytherapy”.  For this occasion, Jack Coats, President of Nucletron Corporation noted, “the outstanding efforts made by Professors Husain, MD, and Dunscombe, PhD and the faculty of Tom Baker Cancer Centre to further the development and adoption of Image Guided Brachytherapy methods for the treatment of prostate cancer.”


“The brachytherapy community has indicated an increasing demand for comprehensive information on image-guided brachytherapy planning and automated after-loading of prostate seed treatments. In order to fulfill this need, Tom Baker and Nucletron organized a dedicated clinical workshop with a comprehensive program which will be repeated as needed,” added Peter Dunscombe, PhD, Director of Medical Physics at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.


Treatment delivery of permanent seeds is automated with the FIRST™  System. The seedSelectron™  is the world’s first automated system for seed implant operations. Seeds and spacers are assembled on-line, based on the optimized treatment plan developed with SPOT PRO™ . 


Benefits to the clinical team of electro-mechanical seedSelectron™  are numerous. They include 100% relative calibration of all seeds used, which validates that the dosimetry accurately reflects the activity of the implant. Mechanical deposition of the seed-spacer train ensures a repeatable process that is not dependent on the typical lengthy learning curve of manual techniques. System safety is unsurpassed, according to the ALARA principle, an industry safety standard, which indicates the extent to which the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. Safety is further reinforced by means of shielded seed cartridges, automated quality assurance tools embedded within the system, and focused loading of the implanted needles which ensures treatment where needed. These safeguards ensure that as little radiation as possible is received by the clinical staff.


About Tom Baker Cancer Centre

Tom Baker Cancer Centre, located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is part of the Alberta Cancer Board and is associated with the University of Calgary. The Cancer Centre provides a full range of cancer related services such as epidemiology, cancer registries, dietary and psychosocial support. Teaching and research are an important component of Tom Baker’s mandate and the centre is actively engaged in training and research projects. Tom Baker participates in a number of regional, national and international clinical trials.

About the Alberta Cancer Board

The Alberta Cancer Board is mandated by the government of Alberta under the Cancer Programs Act to coordinate all cancer research, prevention and treatment programs in the province of Alberta. This comprehensive orientation makes the Alberta Cancer Board a unique agency in Canada.


About Nucletron B.V.

Nucletron is a global leader in the development, manufacture, sales, service and support of the world’s most innovative products for cancer treatment, with particular expertise in treatment planning systems, brachytherapy, simulation, integrated software solutions for oncology, and comprehensive support and professional education and services. The company has over 20 offices worldwide, including its corporate headquarters in Veenendaal, the Netherlands. For more information on Nucletron, please visit: www.nucletron.com.


Nucletron B.V. is a subsidiary of Delft Instruments. Delft Instruments is the holding company of an international group of companies, which hold a leading position in their respective markets with high quality, high technology products and services. Delft Instruments is globally active with over 30 wholly-owned subsidiaries worldwide, employs approximately 1,000 people and reported turnover of EUR 261.6 million in 2004. For more information on Delft Instruments, please visit:  http://www.delftinstruments.com/. 


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