About Proton Beam Therapy

Greetings

 

University of Tsukuba: Pioneer of a worldwide standard in proton therapy

 

University of Tsukuba began full-scale clinical research in proton therapy in 1983, as the first facility in Japan to pursue research in the field. The university has achieved a number of significant developments in the field, in particular internationally pioneering the use of proton therapy to treat cancerous liver tumors and other tumors deep inside the body by developing the treatment method known as respiratory-gated radiotherapy, which is now highly regarded and considered as a worldwide standard in proton therapy.

 

A significant characteristic of proton therapy is that the proton-beam can be targeted at a tumor with pinpoint precision such that the healthy cells surrounding it are left undamaged and only mild side effects are produced. As this therapy minimizes the physical side effects on the patient, it can be a highly effective means of treating aged or frail cancer patients with complications such as a heart disease. Proton therapy is also a good method for treating and helping to ensure a healthy future for children or young cancer patients, because the risks that it will inhibit their physical growth and development or cause secondary cancer are low.

 

As the Proton Beam Therapy Center is part of University of Tsukuba Hospital, the center staff are able to cooperate closely with doctors and medical practitioners specializing in internal medicine, surgery, and a number of other fields, working in teams and adopting a multidisciplinary perspective in order to provide the best possible therapy. There is no universal method of treating cancer and each patient needs to receive treatment that has been adapted to their individual condition. We place the utmost importance on providing the most suitable means of treatment for each patient by carefully examining their physical and mental condition, such as their symptoms, age, physical strength, or ways of thinking about medical treatment.

 

Cancer treatments today generally adopt a combination of methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment, utilizing the elements of each method which are most suited to treating the patient’s condition. Proton therapy can be used as part of such combined treatment methods to ensure that patients maintain a good quality of life.

 

Through our clinical practice and research, we strive to assist a greater number of patients by providing and developing proton therapy. If you are considering proton therapy as a treatment option, please do not hesitate to consult with us.

 

SAKURAI Hideyuki

Director, Proton Beam Therapy Center,
University of Tsukuba Hospital

History

1973 National Laboratory for High Energy Physics (KEK) currently the High-Energy Accelerator Research Organization proposes particle therapy using a largescale proton accelerator.
1975 KEK, the National Institute of Radiological Sciences, and University of Tsukuba agree to implement a particle therapy project.
1976 The “Working Group for Research in Medical and Biological Use of High LET Particles” is established at University of Tsukuba. The group is renamed the “Preparatory Committee for the Committee for Study of Biological and Chemical Use of High-LET Radiation” in December, and the particle therapy project is developed as a university-wide initiative.
1977 A joint experiment using a large-scale proton accelerator commences.
1979 The project organization is renamed the Particle Medical Center, with the project duration set as ten years.
1982 A proton facility is built, and work is commenced on proton experiments on living creatures.
1983 The world’s first clinical study using a vertical beam begins.
1990 The Particle Medical Center reaches the end of its tenyear duration, and the Proton Medical Research Center is established in its place.
2001 A new facility is built at University of Tsukuba Hospital and becomes the new location of the Proton Medical Research Center.
2004 The Proton Medical Research Center is made an affiliated organization of the hospital following the reorganization of the university as a national university corporation
2008 Proton therapy is recognized as an advanced medical treatment.
2014 Proton Beam Therapy Center is established as a clinical department.

Treatment results

As of September 2023, the Proton Beam Therapy Center has treated 7,526 patients, including those treated by the National Laboratory for High Energy Physics (KEK) -currently known as the High-Energy Accelerator Research Organization- between 1983 and 2000. The largest portion of cases treated were cases of liver cancer, followed by prostate cancer and lung cancer. Our center provides proton therapy for any condition in which the therapy can be effectively applied to the tumor.

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Our Medical Staff

At Proton Beam Therapy Center, University of Tsukuba Hospital, we strive to provide the best possible treatment for each patient through close collaboration between three teams of medical staff (physicians, medical physicists, and radiology technicians) and specialist nursing staff.

 

Our Physicians

Our Medical Physicists

Our Radiological Technologists

Our Physicians

 

Our team of radiological technologists and nurses is responsible for the actual administration of treatment using proton beams. These medical staff have the most contact with patients during the treatment period. All of the team members work to establish a system by which every task is conducted with the same technical expertise. In addition to administering proton beams accurately according to the treatment plan, team members monitor the administration at all times by computer. The radiology team recognizes the importance of effective communication and strives to ensure that patients receive treatment at ease by creating an environment which is both cheerful and fosters a sense of trust.

 

Hideyuki Sakurai, Director, Proton Therapy Center
		  Physician/Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

SAKURAI Hideyuki

Director, Proton Beam Therapy Center

Physician/ Professor,

Department of Radiation Oncology

Kei Nakai, Physician/ Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

NAKAI Kei

Physician/ Associate Professor,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Masashi Mizumoto, Physician/ Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

MIZUMOTO Masashi

Physician/ Associate Professor,
Department of Radiation Oncology
MAKISHIMA Hirokazu, Physician/ Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

MAKISHIMA Hirokazu

Physician/ Assistant Professor,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Haruko Numajiri, Physician/Lecturer, Department of Radiation Oncology

NUMAJIRI Haruko

Physician/ Lecturer,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Takashi Saito, Physician/Clinical Assistant Professor,Department of Radiation Oncology

SAITO Takashi

Physician/ Lecturer,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Takashi Iizumi, Physician/Clinical Assistant Professor,Department of Radiation Oncology

IIZUMI Takashi

Physician/ Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Motohiro Murakami, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

MURAKAMI Motohiro

Physician/ Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Keiichiro Baba, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

BABA Keiichiro

Physician/ Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Masatoshi Nakamura, Physician/Clinical Assistant Professor,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

NAKAMURA Masatoshi

Physician/ Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Tsohiki Ishida, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

Toshiki Ishida

Physician/Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Mizuki Takahashi, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

TAKAHASHI Mizuki

Physician/ Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Hikaru Niitsu, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

NIITSU Hikaru

Physician/ Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology
HARADA Masahiko, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

HARADA Masahiko

Physician/ Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology
SHIRATAKI Haruka, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

SHIRATAKI Haruka

Physician/ Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology
NITTA Haduki, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

NITTA Haduki

Physician/ Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology
FUJIOKA Den, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

FUJIOKA Den

Physician/ Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology
Suzuki Yuka, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

SUZUKI Yuka

Physician/ Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology
SHO Keiritsu, Physician/Resident,
                 Department of Radiation Oncology

SHO Keiritsu

Physician/ Resident,
Department of Radiation Oncology

Our Medical Physicists

 

Our team of medical physicists engages in the provision of proton therapy alongside the physicians, ensuring that proton beams are administered accurately and efficiently by devising detailed proton-dosing plans suited to the medical condition of each patient. The team strives to raise the accuracy of treatment and alleviate the physical side effects on the patient by conducting simulations before beginning treatment in order to confirm the suitable dose, angle, and other aspects regarding the proton beam. During treatment a tumor continually changes its shape as it gradually decreases in size. By processing data on the shape of the tumor as four-dimensional images, and combining such data with an advanced technique for calculating the distribution of the radiation dose, the team conducts research to provide the best treatment suited to each situation, as well as to develop new radiation techniques with increased levels of precision and safety.

 

Takeji Sakae, Professor

SAKAE Takeji

Director, Proton Medical Research Center
Professor

Tomonori Isobe, Professor

ISOBE Tomonori

Medical Physicist
Professor

Hiroaki Kumada, Associate Professor

KUMADA Hiroaki

Medical Physicist
Associate Professor

Toshiyuki Terunuma, Assistant Lecturer

TERUNUMA Toshiyuki

Medical Physicist
Assistant Lecturer


Yutaro Mori, Assistant Professor

MORI Yutaro

Medical Physicist
Assistant Professor


Shunsuke Moriya, Assistant Professor

MORIYA Shunsuke

Medical Physicist
Assistant Professor

Satoshi Kamizawa, Researcher

KAMIZAWA Satoshi

Medical Physicist
Researcher

Chie Kawano, Resident/ Medical Physics

KAWANO Chie

Medical Physicist

KOMATSU Fumiaki, Radiological Technologist

KOMATSU Fumiaki

Medical Physicist

Our Radiology Technicians and Nurses

 

Our team of radiology technicians and nurses is responsible for the actual administration of treatment using proton beams. These medical staff have the most contact with patients during the treatment period. All of the team members work to establish a system by which every task is conducted with the same technical expertise. In addition to administering proton beams accurately according to the treatment plan, team members monitor the administration at all times by computer. The radiology team recognizes the importance of effective communication and strives to ensure that patients receive treatment at ease by creating an environment which is both cheerful and fosters a sense of trust.

 

Toshio Miyamoto, Radiological Technologist

MIYAMOTO Toshio

Radiology Technician
Masaru Sato, Radiological Technologist

SATO Masaru

Radiology Technician
Katsuhisa Hosono, Radiological Technologist

HOSONO Katsuhisa

Radiology Technician
Shinya Ishida, Radiological Technologist

ISHIDA Shinya

Radiology Technician

Yosuke Yoshimura, Radiological Technologist

YOSHIMURA Yosuke

Radiology Technician
Ryo Nishino, Radiological Technologist

NISHINO Ryo

Radiology Technician
HAGIWARA Shogo, Radiological Technologist

HAGIWARA Shogo

Radiology Technician
MURAKAMI Tatsuhiko, Radiological Technologist

MURAKAMI Tatsuhiko

Radiology Technician
SHIOHATA Issei, Radiological Technologist

SHIOHATA Issei

Radiology Technician
SUGAYA Keito, Radiological Technologist

SUGAYA Keito

Radiology Technician
HIRATANI Yuichi, Nurse

HIRATANI Yuichi

Nurse
KOSUGE Kimiko, Nurse

KOSUGE Kimiko

Nurse