Korea’s NCC helps Kazakhstan launch Central Asia’s 1st proton therapy center

(Courtesy of NCC)

The National Cancer Center (NCC) said Thursday that Kazakhstan's National Research Oncology Center (NROC) began proton therapy on Oct. 23, the first such treatment in Central Asia.

This achievement follows NCC's transfer of two decades of proton therapy expertise.

With help from Professor Moon Sung-ho at NCC's Proton Therapy Center, NROC began its first treatment on Oct. 23. The next day, a 32-year-old man with meningioma received the second treatment. NCC said about 10 new patients are now preparing for proton therapy.

Professor Moon Sung-ho of the Proton Therapy Center

The NCC signed a business agreement with NROC in 2019 to introduce and operate the proton therapy system. In 2021, NROC's medical physicists and engineers spent three weeks at NCC for hands-on training in system introduction, quality management, and treatment planning. In 2022, NROC launched the system and signed a technical advisory contract with NCC to prepare for clinical application.

From August to October 2023, at NROC’s request, the NCC dispatched a team of seven experts—including five medical physicists and two radiation oncologists—to Kazakhstan. During this period, the delegation assisted NROC in establishing a safe treatment system by conducting trial checks of the proton therapy machine, verifying the treatment planning system, setting up a Quality Assurance (QA) system, and consulting on patient-specific treatment planning.

“This collaboration marks a milestone in spreading particle radiation therapy in Central Asia,” Professor Moon said. “We will continue working to expand K-Healthcare and international healthcare cooperation.”

Dr. Shin Dong-ho of the Proton Therapy Center said, “We are proud that NCC's expertise is helping advance cancer treatment in Central Asia.”