The National Cancer Institute IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale in Naples has entered a new era in breast cancer treatment with the installation of GammaPod®, the stereotactic radiotherapy system designed exclusively for the breast. With the treatment of its first patients and its admission to the GammaPod International Clinical Consortium, the Pascale Institute is establishing itself as a leading European center for innovation in breast radiotherapy.
A Technology Designed Exclusively for the Breast
GammaPod is a unique solution in the field of radiation oncology. Developed specifically for the treatment of breast cancer, it combines a dedicated breast immobilization system, highly conformal radiation delivery, and prone patient positioning, allowing radiation to be focused exclusively on the therapeutic target.
The unique combination of these features enables sub-millimeter accuracy, significantly reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues and organs such as the heart and lungs.
Tangible Benefits for Patients
The stereotactic approach enabled by GammaPod offers significant advantages from both clinical and organizational perspectives.
Treatments can be completed in a greatly reduced number of sessions—down to a single fraction—resulting in fewer hospital visits and a substantially lower impact on patients’ daily lives. The enhanced accuracy of dose delivery also helps preserve healthy tissue, supports better cosmetic outcomes, and generally reduces side effects compared with conventional “general-purpose” radiotherapy systems, which are designed to treat tumors across a wide range of anatomical sites.
“The introduction of GammaPod into our treatment portfolio enables us to offer patients a care pathway that significantly improves their quality of life, both in terms of clinical outcomes and by minimizing disruption to their daily routines,” said Dr. Vincenzo Ravo, Director of Radiation Oncology at the National Cancer Institute IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale. “In addition, the reduction in the number of treatment sessions allows us to provide access to high-quality care for a greater number of patients.”
Clinical Research and the Development of New Treatment Protocols
Beyond the immediate benefits for patients, GammaPod opens new opportunities for clinical research and the advancement of breast-conserving treatment strategies.
“Our goal is to develop increasingly effective and conservative treatment approaches,” explained Dr. Sara Falivene, Breast Radiation Oncology Lead. “We are currently working on launching international multicenter clinical studies that could help redefine future treatment standards.”
Professor Michelino De Laurentiis, Director of the Institute’s Department of Breast and Thoracic Oncology, also emphasized the strategic value of the new technology: “GammaPod enables us to explore ultra-accurate partial breast irradiation strategies, reducing treatment time and exposure of healthy tissues without compromising oncological effectiveness.”
A New Center of Excellence Within the GammaPod Network
With the launch of its clinical program and its membership in the GammaPod International Clinical Consortium, the Pascale Institute has joined a global network of centers dedicated to developing innovative protocols for the treatment of breast cancer.
This important milestone confirms the Institute’s commitment to technological innovation and personalized medicine, further strengthening its role within the international oncology research community.
For Tema Sinergie, the successful installation at the Pascale Institute represents another important step forward in expanding access to this highly innovative technology, capable of significantly improving patients’ quality of life.
A Success Made Possible Through Teamwork
The launch of the GammaPod program at the National Cancer Institute IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale is the result of a major multidisciplinary effort involving numerous healthcare professionals across the Institute. Physicians, medical physicists, radiation therapists, nurses, and support staff worked side by side throughout every stage of the project—from system installation and the development of clinical protocols to the treatment of the first patients.
A particularly significant contribution was made by the Medical Physics Department, which expertly managed all commissioning activities, dosimetric validation, and quality assurance procedures required to bring the system into clinical operation according to the highest standards of safety and accuracy.
The rapid clinical implementation of GammaPod at the Pascale Institute once again demonstrates that the best outcomes are achieved through collaboration, the sharing of expertise, and the daily commitment of professionals united by the common goal of providing patients with increasingly effective, safe, and quality-of-life-oriented cancer care.