Comprehensive Cancer Care Close to Home Includes Proton Therapy Options at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center

When facing a cancer diagnosis, patients want the most advanced treatment options available. OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma's only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, offers the full spectrum of radiation therapy treatments, including proton therapy, right here in Oklahoma City.

Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation treatment that uses protons (positively charged particles) instead of traditional X-rays to treat cancer. The key advantage lies in precision. Protons can be controlled to stop at the tumor site, which means less radiation reaches healthy tissue around the cancer. This precision is especially important when treating cancers near vital organs.

Prostate Cancer Treatment with Proton Therapy

Stephenson Cancer Center regularly treats many types of cancer with proton therapy, including prostate cancer. The center has treated approximately 60 patients with prostate cancer using proton therapy in the past year alone.

“At Stephenson, we are proud to have access to several advanced technologies, including proton therapy, and are able to help each patient make the choice that is best for them,” said prostate radiation oncologist Dr. Tyler Gunter, M.D., associate professor at OU Health.

For prostate cancer patients, the center offers flexible treatment options ranging from 5 to 39 sessions, depending on specific medical needs. The medical team considers several factors when recommending the right approach:

• The type, stage, location and size of the cancer
• Previous surgical history
• Current symptoms and overall health status

The five-session treatment option has become increasingly popular because it is just as effective, more convenient for the patient, and insurance companies almost universally approve it, removing one of the biggest barriers to receiving this advanced care.

“Because our system is so advanced, we are able to offer superior sparing of normal tissue compared to older systems. We are also able to achieve dose escalation to the tumor itself, which recent prostate trials have shown can improve cancer control with no additional side effects,” said Dr. Gunter.

Advanced Technology Delivers Better Results

The proton therapy system at Stephenson Cancer Center uses intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT), which represents the most advanced proton technology available today. This sophisticated approach allows physicians to:

• Shape the radiation dose precisely to match the tumor
• Spare more healthy tissue than older proton systems
• Deliver higher doses directly to the tumor when needed

Recent clinical trials show that this dose escalation can improve cancer control without adding side effects.

“We are proud to offer IMPT, which is the most advanced form of proton therapy. We have been offering this technology since 2019 and have physicians and physics faculty who are known nationally and internationally for their work on proton therapy,” said Dr. Mark Newpower, Ph.D., and proton therapy physics faculty researcher at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus.

Treating Multiple Cancer Types

While prostate cancer represents a significant portion of cases, the versatile proton system at Stephenson Cancer Center treats many cancer types:

• Brain and central nervous system tumors
• Head and neck cancers
• Breast cancer
• Pediatric cancers

The center treats 14 to 20 patients per day with proton therapy. The medical team evaluates each case individually to determine if proton therapy offers the best outcome for that specific patient and cancer type.

Complete Cancer Care Under One Roof

As Oklahoma's only NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Stephenson Cancer Center offers nearly every type of radiation therapy patients might need:

• Proton therapy for precise tumor targeting
• Photon therapy using multiple linear accelerators (ensuring treatment continues even during equipment maintenance)
• Brachytherapy for internal radiation treatment
• Gamma Knife for brain tumor treatment

This comprehensive approach means that if a treatment plan needs to change or combine different approaches, patients don't have to seek care elsewhere. Everything needed is available at one location.

The proton therapy program at Stephenson Cancer Center includes an IMPT machine and maintains the highest quality standards, including full accreditation from the Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core (IROC), active participation in national clinical trials for brain, head and neck, and pediatric cancers; a team of specialized radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and therapists; and state-of-the-art technology commissioned in 2019.

“Our passion for upholding the highest standards of quality in cancer care have led us to pursue several accreditations that are challenging to obtain. For example, we are the only National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancers (NAPBC) facility in the state, meaning we have proven we can meet the highest standards for the quality of care we provide,” said Dr. Christina Henson, M.D., associate professor and interim chair of radiation oncology at Stephenson Cancer Center.

“We are also passionate about clinical trials, which often can mean less or more individualized treatment for a patient, and make sure that we discuss each patient’s clinical trial options with them. In this way, our patients can get excellent cancer treatment and also help future generations of cancer patients to have better options.”

Getting Started with Treatment

Patients diagnosed with cancer who are exploring treatment options can schedule a consultation at Stephenson Cancer Center. The medical team evaluates each specific situation and recommends the most effective treatment approach, whether that's proton therapy, another form of radiation, or a combination of treatments.

Stephenson Cancer Center continues to bring the most advanced cancer care to Oklahoma, ensuring patients have access to the best possible treatments without having to travel far from home. To schedule an appointment or second opinion, complete this form or give us a call toll-free at (855) 750-2273.

Visit OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center for more information about proton therapy or to schedule a consultation.