SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As of May 2019, California Protons Cancer Therapy Center is now affiliated with UC San Diego Health Cancer Network, giving more patients access to world-class, lifesaving proton therapy treatment provided by radiation oncologists from Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, San Diego’s only National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“California Protons is designed to be a regional resource for treating physicians and patients seeking cancer treatment options,” said Andrew Chang, MD, President of Proton Doctors Professional Corporation physician group at California Protons. “We are excited to be affiliated with UC San Diego Health Cancer Network, in addition to Rady Children’s Hospital, enabling us to utilize our services and premier technology to help even more people with cancer.”
The Center, located at 9730 Summers Ridge Road in San Diego, has been in operation for five years, with California Protons operating it since December 2017. California Protons’ oncology team consists of some of the most experienced radiation oncologists in the proton space, internationally recognized and sought out by patients from around the world. With over 50 years of combined experience in proton therapy, these physicians have treated more than 15,000 patients with proton therapy.
“UC San Diego Health’s multidisciplinary team approach allows us to provide our patients with leading-edge cancer therapies without needing to leave San Diego,” said Arno Mundt, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences at University of California San Diego School of Medicine. “Having proton therapy as another tool available to our physicians is a valuable benefit for our patients who will have seamless coordination of care.”
California Protons and UC San Diego Health will work together on research to further support protocols for breast cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck cancers, and more. UC San Diego’s extensive research experience will further enhance much needed proton therapy research. As an academic health system, UC San Diego Health is conducting more than 300 clinical trials that are often unavailable anywhere else.
“The results of clinical trials and research studies are critical pieces of information physicians use when deciding how to best treat our patients,” said James Urbanic, MD, UC San Diego Health radiation oncologist and Chief Program Manager for California Protons. “This affiliation will provide both parties access to the patient data and research structures needed to participate in, and help lead innovative and much needed research.”
California Protons physicians will work closely with UC San Diego Health physicians to discuss rare and complex cases, as well as share expertise during tumor board meetings - multidisciplinary conferences where complex patient cases and treatment options are discussed in detail by medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, researchers, geneticists and pathologists. This collaborative discussion helps to ensure that all treatment options have been reviewed and the best options are presented for each patient.
“At California Protons, we are committed to the delivery of outstanding and effective patient care,” said Carl Rossi, MD, Medical Director of California Protons. “By expanding our relationship with UC San Diego Health Cancer Network, we will increase patient access to this Center and, among other things, enhance our ability to participate in clinical trials and research with the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in the San Diego region.”
About UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health is comprised of UC San Diego Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center, Shiley Eye Institute and Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, as well as other primary and specialty practices located throughout Southern California. Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health is a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a designation reserved for centers with the highest achievements in cancer research, translational science, clinical care, education and community contributions. Studies show that outcomes at NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers result in superior survival and recovery rates. UC San Diego Health also offers outpatient oncology clinic visits, radiation oncology treatment, and infusion and lab procedures at several locations throughout the county to serve the entire region.
About California Protons Cancer Therapy Center
California Protons Cancer Therapy Center is one of only two proton therapy centers in California and 31 nationwide. The Center leverages revolutionary intensity-modulated pencil-beam scanning technology to release a high dose of cancer-killing radiation that conforms precisely to the unique shape and size of the tumor. This approach effectively targets and treats even the most complex and aggressive cancers, sparing surrounding healthy tissues and organs. For more information, please visit www.californiaprotons.com.
