Miami Cancer Institute Hosts Particle Beam Radiotherapy Experts from Across the Globe

Miami Cancer Institute recently served as host for the 60^th annual Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG) meeting, “Optimization of Radiotherapy Modalities,” according to executives with the Institute.

The conference, which took place June 27-July 2 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, drew experts from around the world who shared the latest advances in the field of particle beam radiotherapy. The focus of this year’s meeting was on how particle therapy – proton therapy, especially – is quickly becoming a more accessible and mainstream radiotherapeutic modality for treating cancer.

“Proton radiotherapy is now a treatment option with a more defined space in multidisciplinary cancer care,” said Minesh Mehta, M.D., deputy director and chief of radiation oncology at Miami Cancer Institute, which is part of Baptist Health. “This encourages us to move forward from dosimetric evaluations, case studies and retrospective reports to well-conducted prospective clinical trials, with much higher levels of evidence backing up the value of this modality.”

Dr. Mehta, who served as host chair for this year’s PTCOG meeting, added, “It is exciting to know that we are producing real-world evidence demonstrating not only the clinical benefits but also the cost-effectiveness of our treatments.”

Michael Zinner, M.D., CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, said it was “a privilege” for the Institute to host the meeting and to be able to highlight the great work in radiation oncology aiding cancer patients here in South Florida and around the world.

“At Miami Cancer Institute, we provide a comprehensive range of all major radiotherapy modalities and have effectively integrated them into a multidisciplinary, clinical trial-oriented cancer matrix,” said Dr. Zinner. “This is representative of the robust integration of proton therapy into mainstream cancer management.”

Dr. Zinner added that Miami Cancer Institute launched the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean, and has one of the only radiation oncology programs in the world with each of the newest radiation therapies in one place.

“No other cancer program in the region has the combination of cancer-fighting expertise and advanced technology to diagnose and deliver precise cancer treatments that achieve the best outcomes and improve the lives of cancer patients,” Dr. Zinner said.