Proton beam cancer therapy arrives in the UK

Work on the UK’s first proton beam therapy centre for cancer treatment is underway and expected to be complete by 2017

The investment by Proton Partners International, headquartered in Wales, was supported by the Wales Life Science Investment Fund established by the Welsh Government and managed by Arthurian Life Sciences.

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiotherapy used in cancer treatment, delivering heavily charged protons in a more targeted manner to reduce damage to peripheral tissue and organs.

Approximately 156,000 patients in the UK are currently treated with radiation therapy annually, however around 10% of these patients would be better treated with proton beam therapy, according to Proton Partners International.

There are currently only 40 proton beam therapy centres in the world, located in China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and the USA, but none in the UK.

Work has now begun on the UK’s first proton beam therapy centre that will be situated at the Celtic Springs Business Park in Newport, Wales.

Proton Partners also plan to build centres in Northumberland and London and each centre will be able to treat up to 700 patients annually the company has said.

Mike Moran, chief executive of Proton Partners International, said: “Today marks an important step in our plans to improve cancer care in the UK and I am proud that Wales is leading the way.

“Our centres will offer proton beam therapy, imaging, radiotherapy and chemotherapy – delivering a fully comprehensive level of cancer care, tailored to fit the different needs of each patient.

“Later this year in our Newport centre we will be able to start treating patients with traditional radiotherapy and proton beam therapy will be available in 2017.

“Our overall aim is not just to provide cutting-edge treatment, but we also hope to herald a new era of cancer provision and drive improvements in cancer care in the UK.”