Varian Ethos Adaptive Radiotherapy

What Is Adaptive Radiotherapy?

Tumors change shape, size and location during the course of radiation treatment. Changes can occur as a result of treatment, as well as from breathing, eating and other factors.

Adaptive radiotherapy (also called adaptive radiation therapy) allows doctors to adjust treatment based on changes that take place in the patient’s body. While standard radiation therapy is effective at delivering pre-determined doses of targeted radiation, it often involves exposing healthy tissue surrounding the tumor to radiation in order to ensure the tumor is not missed as it moves during treatment. Adaptive radiotherapy targets the tumor more precisely, while sparing that healthy surrounding tissue.

How Varian Ethos Works

In standard radiation therapy, the same plan is used throughout the course of treatment, which can take place between 1 to more than 30 sessions given over weeks. Varian Ethos uses adaptive planning to adjust the treatment plan at the beginning of each session if the tumor’s structure or location have changed since the last treatment. This process is made fast through semi-automated and artificial intelligence (AI) supported treatment planning.

For example, a tumor’s location in the body can shift based on how full or empty the patient’s stomach, bowel or bladder are. If yesterday’s treatment was given just before the patient had lunch, and today’s treatment is given after lunch, the modified treatment plan will account for any tumor movement caused by a fuller stomach or related digestive processes.

Varian Ethos can be particularly helpful in treating cancers that respond well to very high doses of radiation, such as kidney cancer and pancreatic cancer. In locations like the kidney or pancreas that are in the upper abdomen where anatomy changes frequently day-to-day, Varian Ethos allows the highest dose of radiation to be precisely and safely delivered to kidney tumors.

Uses for Varian Ethos

Varian Ethos adaptive radiotherapy can be used to treat the following cancers:

• Anal cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Oligometastatic cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer

Benefits of Varian Ethos Therapy

Varian Ethos offers a number of benefits for patients:

• Noninvasive: The therapy doesn’t require incisions or surgery.
• Fast: Allows highly targeted treatment to be given in as short as 15-minute sessions.
• Personalized: The real-time anatomy mapping and tumor targeting allows your doctor to tailor every treatment to your specific needs.
• Safe and Comfortable: Designed to provide a positive patient experience in a safe, relaxing, quiet environment.