The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will be home to the first of its kind targeted particle therapy treatment in the state. Proton therapy will offer patients new hope, with construction starting the end of this month on a $36 million project at Nebraska Medical Center.
Proton therapy provides significant benefits to certain patients. The system focuses an extremely targeted dose of radiation for the treatment of tumors, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues and reducing side effects. In past years, traditional proton therapy systems were considered too costly and too large to be used widely.
Nebraska Medicine is partnering with Massachusetts-based Mevion to bring a proton therapy system to the flagship Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
Currently, there are less than 50 proton therapy centers in the United States, with the majority east of the Mississippi River. The Fred & Pamela Buffett Center-Nebraska Medical Center will be the first in a six-state region to offer proton therapy. There are no centers in Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming or Colorado.
Proton therapy is the preferred treatment for tumors in sensitive locations, such as those near the brain, spine, heart and eye. It is considered especially beneficial for treating pediatric patients, whose bodies and brains are still developing.
“The main benefit of proton therapy is the reduction of the radiation dose to the adjacent normal tissue. That says it in a nutshell,” said Charles Enke, MD, radiation oncologist and chair of the UNMC Department of Radiation Oncology. “With pediatric patients, not only do we have to cure their cancer now, but we also have to make certain they are not experiencing side effects of cancer treatment in 15-20 years when they are still young adults.”
The proton therapy system, known as the MEVION S250-FIT Proton Therapy System™, will be integrated into a previously unfinished treatment room at the cancer center. Mevion has adapted their technology to allow patients to be treated in an upright position, as opposed to lying down, which will allow the system to fit into that existing space. Construction will begin later this month to reinforce that room for the project. Nebraska Medicine is partnering with H&H Design-Build and Kiewit to ensure the installation meets the highest standards of quality and safety.
The construction project is expected to begin Monday, March 31. It will take about two years, with proton therapy being offered to patients in spring 2027.
“Nebraska Medicine is committed to providing our patients with the most advanced cancer care available,” said James Linder, MD, CEO and board chair of Nebraska Medicine. “The generous support of donors has enabled the addition of proton therapy to the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and marks another important step in fulfilling that commitment. I am grateful for the leadership of Drs. Enke and Sweasy, and for our partnership with Mevion Medical Systems that will allow us to offer this innovative life-saving treatment to our patients.”
Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, added: “This advanced proton therapy system opens doors for us to explore new frontiers in cancer treatment. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of proton therapy research and bringing the latest advancements to our patients.”
The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is the only institution in Nebraska with a prestigious National Cancer Institute, or NCI, designation and one of just 73 nationwide. This recognition, held since 1984, reflects the center’s commitment to cutting-edge research in preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer.
The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center locations in Omaha, Bellevue and Kearney proudly offer all Nebraskans access to world-class cancer care. Learn more online at this link.
*The MEVION S250-FIT Proton Therapy System is not yet available for clinical use.