For Immediate Release
November 14, 2007

BUFFALO, NY – Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) introduced the “Brain Power” behind one of the region’s most sophisticated Neuro-Oncology Centers at an open house and reception on November 14, 2007.  RPCI is the only treatment center in Western New York, and one of a very few in North America, to offer three precise and powerful instruments for the treatment of benign and malignant brain, pituitary and spinal tumors: intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (ioMRI), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery.

• RPCI installed the region’s first ioMRI unit − and one of only 28 units in the country. Neurosurgeons can now perform MRI scans during brain tumor surgery to improve the accuracy and completeness of brain tumor removal.
• SBRT delivers very high doses of radiation with pinpoint precision through image-guided radiation therapy. This technique makes it possible to knock out tumors that were unable to be destroyed by standard doses of radiation.
• Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery enables physicians to treat inoperable brain tumors and inaccessible brain disorders effectively without surgery. RPCI has treated more than 1,500 patients with the revolutionary technology since 1998.

“Roswell Park has significantly invested in new state-of-the-art technology for its patients,” said Donald L. Trump, MD, President and CEO, RPCI. “These innovative tools allow the Neuro-Oncology team to offer a full spectrum of innovative, minimally-invasive treatments for tumors of the brain, pituitary gland and spine.”

Due to the complexity of neurological cases, the multidisciplinary Neuro-Oncology team at RPCI draws on the expertise of specialists in several disciplines including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical neuro-oncologists, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, radiation physicists, neuropsychologists, physical, occupational and speech therapists, nurse practitioners, nurse case managers and social workers. Members of the Neuro-Oncology team perform 170 neurosurgical operations for brain, pituitary and spinal tumors and over 350 Gamma Knife procedures annually.

An estimated 20,500 new primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2007. Primary brain tumors occur in people of all ages, but are more frequent in children and older adults. Metastatic brain tumors are even more common than primary tumors, and it is estimated than over 100,000 cancer patients each year will have symptoms due to a metastatic brain tumor.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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