After breaking ground over a year ago, Kansas City Proton Institute (KCPI), a division of KCUC, took delivery of the cyclotron particle accelerator. The cyclotron, the key element in proton therapy, repeatedly propels charged particles (protons) in a circular path and shoots them through a beam at a target which results in secondary fission that can be used for a variety of purposes. KCPI will use the cyclotron for proton therapy, a cutting edge type of radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer.
The Kansas City Proton Institute (KCPI) is now open in Overland Park, Kansas and is serving patients from across the Kansas City metro area.
KCPI Is the First Office-Based Proton Therapy Center in Kansas and Missouri
Ground was broken on the new Kansas City Proton Institute location in November of 2021, and in January of 2023 the facility was ready to receive the cyclotron particle accelerator. Having an office-based proton therapy center will make cutting-edge cancer care more accessible and convenient for thousands of cancer patients in both Kansas and Missouri. This two-story, 34,000 square-foot facility will be easy to navigate and features plenty of parking for patient convenience. KCPI brings together expert oncologists, clinical care teams, and researchers to improve cancer care as well as advance the clinical evidence for proton therapy. The Kansas City Proton Institute will be located at 5300 Indian Creek Parkway in Overland Park. KCPI plans to open its doors in Fall 2023.
Advantages of Proton Therapy
Proton therapy represents the latest advances in radiation therapy treatments for cancer. It targets and destroys cancer tumors while reducing the risks of harmful side-effects. Patients at KCPI will receive Pencil Beam Scanning, a highly sophisticated and precise type of proton therapy. The MEVION S250i Proton Therapy System with HYPERSCAN Pencil Beam Scanning technology is the world’s smallest proton therapy system. The smaller size eliminates the obstacles of size, complexity, and cost that exist with other proton therapy systems. ”By bringing it out of the hospitals and into the communities, the cost is far lower,” said Dr. Kenon Qamar, radiation oncologist at KCUC. “In fact, the cost of proton therapy in the outpatient setting is actually less than X-ray therapies in the inpatient setting. So it’s bringing state-of-the-art technology to the community in a much more cost-effective manner.”
KCUC Is Kansas City’s Urology & Oncology Leader
Since 1999 Kansas City Urology & Oncology (KCUC) has been Kansas City’s premier provider for urology care. In 2006, KCUC began providing radiation therapy and is the first urology practice in Kansas City to perform robotic prostate surgery and to provide Provenge for advanced prostate cancer. KCUC has a network of 26 office locations in Kansas and Missouri. With our team of 33 top urologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologist, pathologists and 18 advanced practice providers, we are dedicated to the care of patients with a wide range of urology and oncology needs.