"The Maryland Proton Treatment Center MPTC is now offering deeptissue external thermal therapy in combination with highprecision protonbeam radiotherapy as a potential way to boost survival chances for certain cancer patients. MPTC is the only center in the world to offer these two treatments at the same facility an advantage to patients because these therapies are typically given within an hour of each other. Research has shown that thermal therapy can be especially useful in difficulttoreach cancers in the abdomen and pelvic region. Studies have found that adding thermal therapy to standard treatments can significantly shrink tumors and can improve survival for some patients. External thermal therapy or hyperthermia  in the range of  up to  F.  sensitizes tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In addition heat has been shown to enhance antitumor immune response. We are very pleased to be able to offer deeptissue thermal therapy which can be combined with standard radiation therapy as well as protonbeam therapy to enhance the cancerkilling effects of the radiation says Zeljko Vujaskovic MD PhD a professor of radiation oncology and director of the Division of Translational Radiation Sciences DTRS in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine UMSOM. Early research suggests that adding thermal therapy to protonbeam therapy may be associated with an even greater benefit than when combined with standard radiation therapy and we are excited to be at the forefront of making this combination therapy available to cancer patients says Dr. Vujaskovic an internationally recognized expert in hyperthermic oncology. Proton therapy is a precise form of radiation therapy that deposits all of its energy within the tumor and allows for less irradiation of noncancerous tissue. MPTC  which is affiliated with the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center UMGCCC at the University of Maryland Medical Center  is the only proton treatment center in Maryland. Radiation oncologists at UMGCCC already use external thermal therapy to treat a range of cancers but do not currently use it for cancers that are deeper in the body. According to Dr. Vujaskovic the new deeptissue thermal therapy equipment which is made by Pyrexar will be used to treat cancers of the abdominal and pelvic region including cancer of the bladder rectum cervix ovaries pancreas and connective tissue which are known as sarcomas. Patients would typically receive the thermal therapy two times a week for an hour before or after they receive standard photon radiation or protonbeam therapy. The system heats the tumor tissue to  F. with internal and external probes that enable doctors to continuously monitor the temperature. A waterfilled applicator is placed over the area to be treated and noninvasive radio frequency energy is directed at the tumor. The heat causes the blood vessels in the tumor to dilate bringing more oxygen into the tumor which makes cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation therapy. The acquisition of the deeptissue thermal therapy system was made possible by donations from Jack and Emily Howell and the Middendorf Foundation Inc. Within the Department of Radiation Oncology and throughout our cancer center we strive to make every available tool in the cancerfighting toolbox available to our patients says William F. Regine MD FACR FACRO the Isadore  Fannie Schneider Foxman Endowed Chair and Professor of radiation oncology at UMSOM and chair of radiation oncology at UMGCCC. By continuing to develop a comprehensive thermal oncology program we are giving patients more effective treatment options and therefore another reason to hope for better outcomes. The Maryland Proton Treatment Center has achieved another milestone by becoming the first center to offer both deepthermal therapy and proton therapy says E. Albert Reece MD PhD MBA Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at UM Baltimore and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and dean at UMSOM. This achievement is a testament to Dr. Vujaskovics considerable expertise in hyperthermic oncology and leadership in developing an outstanding thermal oncology program at the University of Maryland. Its this type of innovation that sets MPTC apart from other proton treatment centers. About the University of Maryland School of Medicine Commemorating its th Anniversary the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in  as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing toptier biomedical research enterprises in the world  with  academic departments centers institutes and programs and a faculty of more than  physicians scientists and allied health professionals including members of the National Academy of Sciences and a distinguished recipient of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research.  With an operating budget of more than  billion the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide researchintensive academic and clinicallybased care for more than . million patients each year. The School has over  students residents and fellows and nearly  million in extramural funding with more than half of its academic departments ranked in the top  among all public medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland Baltimore campus the School of Medicine has a total workforce of nearly  individuals. The combined School and Medical System University of Maryland Medicine has a total budget of  billion and an economic impact of nearly  billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine faculty which ranks as the thhighest public medical school in research productivity is an innovator in translational medicine with  active patents and  startup companies. The School works locally nationally and globally with research and treatment facilities in  countries around the world. Visit medschool.umaryland.edu httpmedschool.umaryland.edu About the Maryland Proton Treatment Center The Maryland Proton Treatment Center MPTC offers proton therapy  a highly advanced and precise form of radiation therapy that can increase radiation dose to tumor while decreasing dose to healthy surrounding tissue  to the BaltimoreWashington region and beyond. It is a highly effective treatment for a wide range of localized tumors such as those found in the brain base of the skull head and neck area eye tumors tumors of the esophagus lung prostate liver breast spinal cord as well as gastrointestinal malignancies. It is also an important treatment option for children with cancer. At MPTC each treatment room is equipped with the most advanced form of pencil beam proton therapy which essentially paints the radiation onto the tumor while stopping precisely at the site of the tumor. Proton therapy is performed on an outpatient basis and is a welltolerated noninvasive treatment that can reduce side effects. It can be used in conjunction with other modalities of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery. MPTC offers a robust clinical trial program to all its patients to further evidencebased medicine. MPTC has been patientcentered from the beginning  with a focus on accessibility and affordability. The center was designed to be a regional resource providing the same training privileges and clinical guidelines to physician groups across the region that work sidebyside with MPTC faculty and staff thus improving efficiency and affordability. MPTC offers free concierge services to ensure a seamless patient experience and a successful reconnection back to their referring physician. One of the goals of MPTC is to remain costneutral to insurance providers meaning patients pay the same for proton treatment as they would for other more conventionally available intensitymodulated treatments at the University of Maryland Medical Center.  http"