ST. LOUIS – Mercy is giving its patients a new treatment option for multiple forms of cancer using proton beam therapy.

Through a membership with Proton Collaborative Group (PCG), patients can take part in clinical trials for breast, pancreas, prostate and lung cancers as well as get access to a proton therapy registry, which helps evaluate a patient’s cancer and treatment needed. Using pin-point accurate proton therapy, doctors can target cancerous tissue while reducing, potentially eliminating, exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue. 

What You Need To Know

  • Mercy through a membership to PCG offers clinical trials for breast, pancreas, prostate and lung cancers as well as access to a proton therapy registry

  • Mercy Research brought in specialist to conduct proton therapy trials and entries for to the proton registry data

  • PCG has more than 30 treatment centers in the United States, each seeking to help cancer patients through proton beam therapy

“PCG provides our patients greater opportunity and access to clinical trials using proton beam therapy, which for many of them makes this treatment possible, while at the same time helping improve future cancer treatment,” said Dr. Amit Roy, principal investigator for the proton beam registry and PCG trials at Mercy St. Louis. “In addition, the care teams will have access to important data to help shape future treatment.” 

PCG has more than 30 treatment centers in the United States, each seeking to help cancer patients through proton beam therapy.

“We are delighted to have Mercy as a member of PCG and to share their expertise and perspective on the field of proton therapy,” said Jillian Plochocki, PCG executive director. “Mercy’s contribution to the largest proton therapy registry in the world and to critical proton therapy clinical trials will help pave the way to better treatment, improved clinical outcomes and enhanced quality of life for those diagnosed with cancer.” 

There are 42 other centers in the United States. Mercy Research brought in specialist to conduct proton therapy trials and entries for to the proton registry data.  

“New trials with PCG will compliment Mercy Research’s existing portfolio of National Cancer Institute-sponsored trials for proton beam therapy,” said Dr. Laurie Marshall-Nightengale, Mercy director of oncology research and a representative for Mercy on the PCG executive council. This council provides oversight for PCG committees, protocol developments, protocol approvals, clinical policies, procedures, and organizational strategy implementation. 

Mercy said their Proton Therapy Center opened in July 2022 within Mercy Hospital St. Louis. 

A group of radiation oncologists founded PCG in 2009 aiming to improve the survivability of cancer patients and their quality of life.