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Imperial Valley Cancer Center - Vantage Oncology to Offer Patients New RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Technology to "Zap" Cancer Faster and More Accurately Imperial Valley Cancer Center is the First in El Centro to Provide Local Patients Access to Highly-Advanced Technology Installation Scheduled for February 4, 2011

EL CENTRO, CA - Imperial Valley Cancer Center (IVCC) - Vantage Oncology announced today that it will be the first center in the Imperial Valley to offer residents access to one of the most advanced treatment options available in radiation oncology - RapidArc™ Radiotherapy. With the advent of this sophisticated technology, the fight against cancer has risen to a new level with its innovative capabilities and precise delivery of radiation to tumor sites. The technology is scheduled to begin installation on Friday, February 4, 2011 at 7 a.m. and IVCC will begin treating patients in March 2011. IVCC is located at 1410 S. La Brucherie Road, Suite B in El Centro.

RapidArc™ Radiotherapy delivers treatments that are two to eight times faster than conventional radiotherapy by using an advanced algorithm that simultaneously changes the rotation speed of the gantry, shape of the radiation beam and the delivery dose-rate. In most cases, treatments are delivered in less than two minutes. RapidArc differs from existing technologies like helical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or intensity-modulated arc therapy (IMAT) because it delivers close to the whole volume, rather than slice by slice. The precision of Rapid Arc enables doctors to target and treat tumors more accurately and efficiently, while safely applying higher radiation doses to the tumor and less radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. By dramatically reducing the amount of time patients spend on the treatment table, RapidArc also improves patient comfort.

"We are excited to offer RapidArc to our served communities," explained Dr. Edward J. Ordorica, medical director of Imperial Valley Cancer Center - Vantage Oncology. "As a result of this new technology, we can offer eligible patients greater options which allow the completion of highly-accurate radiotherapy in a much shorter time." RapidArc radiotherapy delivers image-guided IMRT in a single rotation of the treatment machine around the patient. During the treatment, the radiation beam is shaped and reshaped as it is continuously delivered from virtually every angle in a 360-degree revolution around the patient.

The shaping of the radiation beam is accomplished by the multi-leaf collimator (MLC), which is a device located in the head of the linear accelerator, consisting of 120 computer-controlled mechanical "leaves" or "fingers" that move organically to create apertures of different shapes and sizes. Sophisticated treatment plans, generated by computer on the basis of each patient's unique anatomy and tumor size, shape, and position within the body, guide the treatments.

"The side effects from RapidArc are significantly reduced compared to conventional radiation therapy," said Dr. Ordorica. "The risk of long-term complications from treatment is also dramatically lower."

For more information on Imperial Valley Cancer Center - Vantage Oncology or to schedule an appointment, please call (760) 339-5620 or log on to www.ElCentroRadiationOncology.com.

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ABOUT VANTAGE ONCOLOGY, INC.
Founded in October 2002, Manhattan Beach, California-based Vantage Oncology, LLC. acquires, joint ventures, develops and operates state-of-the-art radiation oncology centers. Vantage Oncology was created in response to the growing need among cancer patients, hospitals and physicians for accessible and advanced radiation treatment therapies. Vantage Oncology is led by a seasoned management team, including Chief Executive Officer Michael Fiore, Medical Director Leslie Botnick, M.D., Chief Financial Officer Marshal Salomon and Chief Development Officer Mark Ahern.

Contact:

Trace Longo
Longo Communications
Tel: (949) 364-2821
trace.longo@sbcglobal.net

Danny Ortiz, BSN, RN, PHN
Imperial Valley Cancer Center
Tel: (760) 339-5620
dortiz@vantageoncology.com