Artificial intelligence is reshaping radiation therapy at Jefferson Health’s Cherry Hill Hospital, where clinicians can now adjust treatment in real time to better target tumors and spare nearby organs.
Last year, Jefferson’s cancer center became the first in South Jersey to implement the Ethos adaptive radiation system made by Varian Medical Systems, a Siemens Healthineers company. Unlike traditional radiation therapy, which relies on a single plan of action designed weeks before treatment begins, Ethos recalculates and adapts the plan while the patient is on the table to account for tumor shrinkage, weight loss, or shifting internal organs.
The shift reflects a larger trend in oncology toward personalized, data‑driven care. For patients, this approach may mean less time on the treatment table and fewer radiation sessions.
The Ethos therapy is especially beneficial for those with prostate, liver, pancreas or lung cancers, in which the position and shape of a tumor is more likely to shift before or after treatment. Nearby organs may also move or change shape due to natural body processes, such as breathing, digestion or bladder filling.
Dr. Tamara LaCouture, chief of cancer services for Jefferson Health in New Jersey, said the previous process unfolded over weeks:
- A consultation and treatment recommendation
- A CT scan to map out where the tumor was
- Seven to 10 days of crafting a radiation plan
- Up to 2 months of daily radiation, with any adjustments requiring a pause of several days to redo the treatment plan
“What’s fabulous about this machine is, not only does it help us aim better through better imaging and quicker imaging technology, but now, using all of that behind-the-scenes computer technology, we can now perform that entire process in 15 to 20 minutes,” LaCouture said.
That speed can reduce a treatment course from five to eight weeks to just five days, she said.
“Ethos isn’t for everyone,” she said. “But for the patients who need this type of technology to avoid treatment breaks and improve outcomes, as well as reduce long-term side effects, it’s a fabulous tool to have.”
Jefferson Health, based in Pennsylvania, operates several hospitals in southern New Jersey. Its Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of just 74 nationwide designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.
LaCouture recently attended the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston, where AI-guided and adaptive therapy were major themes. The pace of innovation blew her away.
“It’s amazing how quickly these changes come and how much has happened since I trained,” she said. “We’ve gone from making Plaster of Paris patient molds to this, in 20 years. That’s amazing.”
For information about Jefferson Health, go to jeffersonhealth.org/home.
