Atrium Health Levine Cancer Begins Treating Patients with Proton Beam Therapy

Ruben A. Mesa, MD, FACP

Atrium Health Levine Cancer is proud to announce it will begin treating patients with proton beam therapy this week at the new Atrium Health Levine Cancer Proton & Advanced Radiation Center. The center, located on Atrium Health’s midtown Charlotte campus, is the first and only facility in the Carolinas to offer this innovative and lifesaving treatment for adult and pediatric patients with complex tumors.

“The Proton & Advanced Radiation Center is one of less than 50 facilities in the United States – and the first and only facility in the Carolinas – to offer this innovative and lifesaving treatment for adult and pediatric patients with complex tumors,” said Ken Haynes, president of Advocate Health – Southeast Region. “This is an exciting and monumental day for our cancer program, and we are extremely grateful for our world-class clinical staff and generous community supporters who made today possible.”

Proton beam therapy is a form of radiation therapy that delivers a beam of protons that damage a tumor’s DNA and destroy cancer cells. It is highly precise, targeted, and effective, and can lead to fewer side effects and less damage to surrounding healthy tissue than conventional radiation therapy. Proton beam therapy can be used to treat various types of cancers, especially those that are located near critical organs and structures, such as the brain, lung, eye, head, and neck. It can also reduce the risk of long-term complications and secondary malignancies for children and adolescents, who are more sensitive to radiation exposure.

“We are thrilled to bring this state-of-the-art technology to our patients and families, who will no longer have to travel out of state to receive this treatment,” said Dr. Ruben Mesa, president of Atrium Health Levine Cancer. “This is a testament to our commitment to providing the best care possible for our community, closer to home.”

The new center is part of a $69 million investment into the Charlotte region by Atrium Health, which also includes Gamma Knife radiosurgery, another advanced form of radiation therapy for brain lesions. The center houses a 110-ton proton accelerator unit called the cyclotron, which is three stories tall and serves as the powerhouse for proton beam therapy. The unit was delivered and installed in December 2023, after a complex and meticulous process that involved transporting it across the country and lifting it by crane into the building.

As the hub for collaborative, world-class radiation care and clinical trials involving experts from Atrium Health Levine Cancer and Atrium Health Levine Children’s, the center serves patients who would benefit most from proton beam therapy. “We are excited to offer proton beam-based clinical trials at this facility fueled by our National Cancer Institute-designated Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center,” says Mesa. “We’ll not only be treating patients with this revolutionary therapy, but we’ll also research ways to revolutionize what’s possible for patients.”

“We are proud to have a skilled and expert team of radiation oncologists who provide personalized and comprehensive care for our patients, using the most advanced and appropriate tools available,” said Dr. Stuart Burri, chairman of the radiation oncology department at Atrium Health Levine Cancer. “With proton beam therapy, we are adding another cutting-edge option to our arsenal of treatments, and we are excited to join a select group of cancer centers in the country that can offer this innovative technology.”

Learn more about proton beam therapy and other radiation therapy options at Atrium Health Levine Cancer.