A treatment system called the Novalis Tx has gone into service which has the ability to destroy cancerous cells virtually anywhere in the body in a single, 20-minute session, without the need for a single cut of the scalpel.

The Novalis Tx, installed in The Christie at Salford Royal, a brand new radiotherapy centre in the North West, treats cancer using a specialised technique called radiosurgery which is especially beneficial for tumours of the brain and spine previously thought untreatable by surgeons.

Using powerful, highly accurate beams of radiation shaped to fit the precise shape of even the most complex tumours, the system is able to treat painlessly without the need for invasive surgery and with fewer side effects. The short treatment times of the system benefit both doctor and patient; and mean more patients can be treated on the system in one day. Patients are often able to attend clinic just as an outpatient, returning to life the same day. Frameless radiosurgery provides a patient-friendly alternative to techniques that require immobilisation with an invasive head ring that is affixed to the skull.

Rachel Good, Christie radiotherapy manager for the new centre, says: “The Novalis Tx was the perfect choice for the centre because it will help The Christie treat more patients by switching between specialised radiosurgery for tumours in the brain to standard radiotherapy for other cancers of the body. In our first year we are looking to treat 720 patients with the Novalis Tx, 120 of which will be priority brain tumour patients where precise, non-invasive treatment is particularly effective.”

News will be welcomed by the 300,000 people in the UK diagnosed with cancer each year. Of these 50,000 people are estimated to develop either primary or secondary brain tumours, where traditional treatment is difficult to provide. Malignant primary brain tumours take more years off the average person's life than any other cancer and are the most significant cause of cancer death amongst men under 45 years and women under 35.

Tina Karabatsou, Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, says: “One of the fantastic advantages of the new Novalis Tx treatment is we will be able to treat brain conditions we were previously unable to treat; such as tumours really deep in the brain where open surgery is too dangerous. Equally important is the non-invasive nature of treatment, which means treatment sessions can be performed as an outpatient day-case and with significantly less side effects.”

The launch of the high-quality treatment coincides with new guidelines released by the NHS National Cancer Action Team which state that radiosurgery should be made available to all suitable cancer patients in England. By the end of 2011 three sites will be treating with the Novalis Tx developed by Varian Medical Systems and Brainlab in England and Scotland, improving access to advanced cancer care to patients across the UK.

Helen Bulbeck, director of patient charity Brainstrust, comments: “The launch of the Novalis Tx system is a huge stride towards modernising cancer care in the UK to levels seen in Europe and the US. This is a great achievement for brain tumour treatment and one that we hope to see the NHS continue to build on in the years to come.”

Brainlab develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that supports targeted, less-invasive treatment. Core products are image-guided systems and software that provide real-time information used for surgical navigation and radiosurgical planning and delivery.

Brainlab technology drives collaboration between hospitals and clinicians from a wide variety of sub-specialities from neurosurgery and oncology to orthopaedics, ENT, CMF and spine and trauma.

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy.

The Christie is one of the leading cancer centres in Europe treating about 40,000 patients every year and an international leader in research.

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust is recognised as one of the best Trust's in the NHS and aims to provide safe, clean and personal care to all patients. Salford Royal is large teaching Trust providing a range of medical, surgical, maternity and emergency services to the people of Salford.