‘꿈의 암 치료’를 향한 거대한 도전: 서울아산병원 중입자치료센터가 여는 정밀 의료의 시대 > K-wave Trends

Heavy ion therapy is attracting attention as a next-generation cancer treatment technology that can overcome the limitations of existing radiation therapy. This method of destroying cancer cells by accelerating heavy ions such as carbon close to the speed of light uses the ‘Bragg Peak’ principle, which explodes the energy of radiation at the point where the cancer cells are located. This dramatically reduces the radiation exposure to normal tissues around cancer cells, while concentrating a destructive power that is 2 to 3 times more powerful than existing treatments on cancer tissues. In particular, it is expected to be highly effective in treating tumors that are difficult to operate or are radiation-resistant, such as pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and recurrent cancer, and it will literally open a new path to life for patients suffering from incurable diseases.

The Asan Medical Center's Heavy Ion Therapy Center, which recently began construction, boasts overwhelming specifications befitting its title as the largest in Korea. This facility, with a total floor area of ​​approximately 40,000 square meters, will be designed with 3 underground floors and 9 above-ground floors, and will integrate cutting-edge medical infrastructure. Inside, two rotating treatment devices and one fixed treatment device manufactured by Toshiba of Japan are introduced, and in particular, ‘multi-ion beam’ technology that utilizes various ions such as helium, neon, and oxygen as well as carbon ions is applied. This is significant in that it enables customized precision treatment by selecting the most appropriate particles according to the nature of the tumor and the patient's condition, and provides safer treatment options for pediatric cancer patients.

In addition to technological advancements, this project focuses on maximizing patient convenience and treatment accuracy. A CT-based image guidance system that tracks changes in tumor location and size in real time will minimize errors that may occur during treatment and provide customized treatment optimized for each patient. In addition, by securing a wider irradiation range and higher dose rate than existing equipment, it can not only shorten treatment time but also greatly reduce the physical burden on patients. This can be evaluated as a result that reflects the hospital's careful strategy to go beyond the simple introduction of technology and establish a holistic treatment system that considers the patient's quality of life.

The philosophy of ‘social responsibility’ and ‘respect for life’ that the Asan Foundation has maintained is deeply embedded in the background of this project. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Asan Foundation Chairman Chung Mong-joon mentioned the spirit of his late father, founder Chung Ju-young, who worked to eliminate medical villages in the past, and emphasized that helping patients suffering from incurable diseases today is the only way to maintain that legacy. Although it is a challenging task that involves large-scale investment and long-term construction, the reason why Asan Medical Center pushes forward with it is because of its firm vision to innovate the paradigm of domestic cancer treatment and secure global competitiveness. This will be a representative example of how a corporate foundation's medical investment can simultaneously achieve social public interest and medical progress.