St. Louis, M.O., -- A patient with a rare type of cancer called chondrosarcoma at the base of the skull has become the first person in the world to receive proton therapy using the revolutionary MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System from Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. of Littleton, MA. Radiation oncologists at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis delivered the treatment. The S. Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital is home to the MEVION S250, a unique proton therapy device designed to deliver the same precise, non-invasive treatments delivered by conventional proton systems but with a greatly reduced physical footprint, streamlined clinical workflow, and significantly lower implementation and operational costs.

"We are extremely pleased and proud to open the Kling Proton Therapy Center for the St. Louis community and beyond." said Rich Liekweg, President of Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The closest proton therapy center is over 230 miles away from St. Louis. "The ability to add proton therapy to our world-class cancer care program in a significantly smaller and more economical package is imperative in today's challenging health care environment. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the first in the world to operate a single-room proton therapy system and the addition of this advanced technology continues our tradition of providing the best care for our patients."

Proton therapy delivers highly precise doses of radiation while limiting unnecessary radiation to healthy tissue, potentially decreasing radiation side effects and improving patient outcomes. Mevion's ability to provide this advanced treatment in a compact form is an industry first, leading the way in providing patients and clinicians access to proton therapy without the high entry and maintenance costs plaguing conventional proton systems. "Today's important landmark event represents the beginning of a new era in proton radiation therapy. The ability to treat with this advanced technology is no longer encumbered by astronomical costs, prohibitive space requirements, and technologically cumbersome systems that to date have defined this treatment modality" stated Joseph K. Jachinowski, Chief Executive Officer of Mevion Medical Systems.
"The MEVION S250 proves that all the benefits and more of these legacy proton therapy systems can be delivered in a fiscally responsible manner".

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