by
Gus Iversen, Editor in Chief | May 18, 2026
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute plans to install a compact proton therapy system at its Longwood Medical Area campus in Boston after receiving state approval to build a new proton therapy center.
The Massachusetts Public Health Council voted unanimously May 13 to approve Dana-Farber’s Determination of Need application for the project. Construction is expected to begin this spring, with the center scheduled to open in late 2027.
The center will use Mevion Medical Systems’ MEVION S250-FIT proton therapy platform, integrating proton treatment into Dana-Farber’s existing multidisciplinary cancer care environment, including pediatric services provided through the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
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Dana-Farber said the facility will be the first proton therapy center in New England designed to treat patients in seated or inclined positions. The system uses patient rotation around the proton beam instead of a large rotating gantry, an approach intended to reduce facility size and project costs.
Proton therapy delivers radiation with limited exit dose, allowing clinicians to better spare nearby healthy tissue. The treatment is commonly used for certain pediatric cancers and tumors located near critical organs.
“Proton therapy is a critical tool in modern radiation oncology and cancer care, delivering the precision needed to eradicate malignant tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissues and minimizing side effects,” said Dr. Peter F. Orio, chair of the department of radiation oncology at Dana-Farber.
The MEVION S250-FIT system is designed to fit into existing linear accelerator vaults, reducing the infrastructure typically required for proton therapy installations. The platform includes Mevion’s HYPERSCAN pencil-beam scanning technology for intensity-modulated proton therapy.
The Littleton, Massachusetts-based company said the system also incorporates Leo Cancer Care’s upright patient positioning technology, which supports treatment delivery by moving the patient rather than rotating the machine.
Dana-Farber said the center will treat both its own patients and referrals from hospitals across the region, with follow-up care coordinated through patients’ local providers.
