VECC to set up medical cyclotron centre for cancer patients

Kolkata, Nov 1(UNI) Variable Energy Cyclotron(VECC) will set up a medical cyclotron centre in the city in collaboration with the Belgium based Ion Beam Application(IBA) for production of radio isotopes for effective treatment of cancer and cardiac patients.

Announcing this, VECC Director Bikash Sinha said the project, being implemented in collaboration with the Belgium-based Ion Beam Application(IBA), would also be used for advanced research and development studies in material sciences and related fields.

Built at a cost of Rs. 100 crore, the centre would be operational in two years, he said.

Mr.Sinha said the centre would be producing the most important PET(Positron Emission Tomography) isotope known as Flurine-18. ''With the availability of these isotopes, the doctors will be able to diagnose accurately and effectively the diseases such as cancer, heart diseases and neurological disorders,'' he said.

IBA administrator and chief research officer Yves Jongen said the medical cyclotron can be used not only for identifying the cancer cells, but treatment of patients as well. ''We have provided this technology to a number of countries, including Japan and China,'' he added.

In reply to a question, Dr. Sinha said VECC was trying to introduce proton therapy in the city--the latest in the treatment of cancer patients. ''We have sent a proposal to the Department of Atomic Energy for developing a proton therapy facility. We are trying to discuss collaboration possibilities with IBA in this regard,'' he said.

Dr.Sinha explained that proton therapy kills only the cancerous cells without damaging the live ones. The therapy had proved successfuly in controlling disease in 90 per cent cases. He observed that with the incidence of cancer rising and about 20 per cent minors being among the victims, proton therapy was a necessity in the country.

UNI KDG PL SY DS1707