HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 10, 2025--
RefleXion Medical, a theranostic oncology company, today announced the scheduled installation of its RefleXion ® X1 platform with SCINTIX ® biology-guided radiotherapy at Beverly Hills Cancer Center (BHCC), the first freestanding cancer center (FSCC) that has installed the RefleXion X1.
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RefleXion announces the scheduled installation of its X1 platform with SCINTIX® biology-guided radiotherapy at Beverly Hills Cancer Center, the first freestanding center to install the X1. SCINTIX therapy is designed to use biology guidance to precisely treat one or more targets within the same treatment session. Early clinical cases have demonstrated that when the tumor moves, SCINTIX therapy autonomously shifts the radiation dose to follow the tumor, thereby safely delivering radiation to the tumor target while sparing radiation exposure to healthy tissue. (Photo: Business Wire)
“At BHCC, we are committed to advancing cancer care by integrating the latest innovations, ensuring our patients receive the highest quality, cutting-edge treatments,” said Arash (Ari) Gabayan, M.D., Chief of Radiation Oncology and Imaging at Beverly Hills Cancer Center. “We are excited to be amongst the first centers in the world to offer our patients this breakthrough technology, which uses the inherent biology of the patient’s tumor to precisely direct the radiation beam to its tumor target.
“This is a totally new and exciting concept in radiation treatment delivery, and we believe that using the tumor’s own biology will transform how patients are treated,” Dr. Gabayan continued.
The RefleXion X1 machine with SCINTIX therapy is designed to use biology guidance to precisely treat one or more targets within the same treatment session. Early clinical cases have demonstrated that when the tumor moves, SCINTIX therapy autonomously shifts the radiation dose to follow the tumor, thereby safely delivering radiation to the tumor target while sparing radiation exposure to healthy tissue.
“We are thrilled to count BHCC and its world-class cancer physicians among our early customers and as our first freestanding cancer center,” said Todd Powell, president and CEO of RefleXion. “Their commitment to providing access to cutting-edge cancer treatments like SCINTIX therapy is invaluable.”
Beginning in 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will expand reimbursement for SCINTIX therapy, introducing new billing codes for FSCCs and professional reimbursement for physicians in both FSCCs and hospital outpatient departments.
“We are encouraged that CMS has expanded reimbursement for freestanding cancer centers like BHCC as this supports clinicians who advance clinical adoption of new technologies and treatments,” continued Powell.
BHCC physicians consulted with Select Healthcare Solutions, a provider of turn-key medical technology solutions to independent physician groups, to integrate SCINTIX therapy into its comprehensive range of cancer treatment options.
SCINTIX therapy uses signals emitted from a patient’s cancer cells to direct radiation treatment. Patients receive an injection of a small amount of a unique molecule, called a PET tracer, which the cancer cells consume. The X1 detects the signals produced in real time and uses those to determine where to deliver the radiation dose. In contrast, conventional radiotherapy uses static images of anatomy to guide treatment delivery.
About Beverly Hills Cancer Center
Beverly Hills Cancer Center provides a unique model of exceptional care, integrating advanced clinical trials, cutting-edge diagnostics, and innovative treatments. With highly skilled physicians, a dedicated staff, and a tranquil healing environment, BHCC is recognized as a leading private cancer diagnostic and treatment facility in Southern California and beyond. Learn more at www.BHCancerCenter.com.
About RefleXion Medical
RefleXion Medical develops and commercializes SCINTIX biology-guided radiotherapy, a groundbreaking treatment that uses a single radiotracer injection to transform cancer cells into real-time biological beacons to control external-beam radiotherapy delivery to single or multiple tumors. SCINTIX therapy is indicated for use in FDG-guided treatment of lung and bone tumors and is being studied for broader indications. In addition, the company offers the RefleXion® X1 system for conventional radiotherapy for all solid tumors. Learn more at https://reflexion.com/.
Beverly Hills Cancer Center is recognized as a leading private cancer diagnostic and treatment facility in Southern California and beyond. (Photo: Business Wire)
RHO, Italy (AP) — No ice is colder and harder than speedskating ice. The precision it takes has meant that Olympic speedskaters have never competed for gold on a temporary indoor rink – until the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games.
In the pursuit of maximum glide and minimum friction, Olympic officials brought on ice master Mark Messer, a veteran of six previous Olympic speedskating tracks and the ice technician in charge of the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Canada — one of the fastest tracks in the world with over 300 records.
Messer has been putting that experience to work one thin layer of ice at a time since the end of October at the new Speed Skating Stadium, built inside adjacent trade fair halls in the city of Rho just north of Milan.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve had in icemaking,’’ Messer said during an interview less than two weeks into the process.
If Goldilocks were a speedskater, hockey ice would be medium hard, for fast puck movement and sharp turns. Figure skating ice would be softer, allowing push off for jumps and so the ice doesn’t shatter on landing. Curling ice is the softest and warmest of all, for controlled sliding.
For speedskating ice to be just right, it must be hard, cold and clean. And very, very smooth.
“The blades are so sharp, that if there is some dirt, the blade will lose the edge,’’ Messer said, and the skater will lose speed.
Speedskater Enrico Fabris, who won two Olympic golds in Turin in 2006, has traded in his skates to be deputy sports manager at the speedskating venue in Rho. For him, perfect ice means the conditions are the same for all skaters — and then if it's fast ice, so much the better.
"It's more of a pleasure to skate on this ice,'' he said.
Messer’s first Olympics were in Calgary in 1988 — the first time speedskating was held indoors. “That gave us some advantages because we didn’t have to worry about the weather, wind blowing or rain,’’ he said. Now he is upping the challenge by becoming the first ice master to build a temporary rink for the Olympics.
Before Messer arrived in Italy, workers spent weeks setting up insulation to level the floor and then a network of pipes and rubber tubes that carry glycol — an antifreeze — that is brought down to minus 7 or minus 8 degrees Celsius (17.6 to 19.4 degrees Fahrenheit) to make the ice.
Water is run through a purification system — but it can’t be too pure, or the ice that forms will be too brittle. Just the right amount of impurities “holds the ice together,’’ Messer said.
The first layers of water are applied slowly, with a spray nozzle; after the ice reaches a few centimeters it is painted white — a full day’s work — and the stripes are added to make lanes.
“The first one takes about 45 minutes. And then as soon as it freezes, we go back and do it again, and again and again. So we do it hundreds of times,’’ Messer said.
As the ice gets thicker, and is more stable, workers apply subsequent layers of water with hoses. Messer attaches his hose to hockey sticks for easier spreading.
What must absolutely be avoided is dirt, dust or frost — all of which can cause friction for the skaters, slowing them down. The goal is that when the skaters push “they can go as far as possible with the least amount of effort,’’ Messer said.
The Zamboni ice resurfacing machine plays a key role in keeping the track clean, cutting off a layer and spraying water to make a new surface.
One challenge is gauging how quickly the water from the resurfacing machine freezes in the temporary rink.
Another is getting the ice to the right thickness so that the Zamboni, weighing in at six tons, doesn’t shift the insulation, rubber tubing or ice itself.
“When you drive that out, if there’s anything moving it will move. We don’t want that,’’ Messer said.
The rink got its first big test on Nov. 29-30 during a Junior World Cup event. In a permanent rink, test events are usually held a year before the Olympics, leaving more time for adjustments. “We have a very small window to learn,’’ Messer acknowledged.
Dutch speedskater Kayo Vos, who won the men’s neo-senior 1,000 meters, said the ice was a little soft — but Messer didn’t seem too concerned.
“We went very modest to start, now we can start to change the temperatures and try to make it faster and still maintain it as a safe ice,’’ he said.
Fine-tuning the air temperature and humidity and ice temperature must be done methodically — taking into account that there will be 6,000 spectators in the venue for each event. The next real test will be on Jan. 31, when the Olympians take to the ice for their first training session.
“Eighty percent of the work is done but the hardest part is the last 20 percent, where we have to try to find the values and the way of running the equipment so all the skaters get the same conditions and all the skaters get the best conditions,’’ Messer said.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Serpentines are set on the ice of the stadium where speed skating discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Rho, outskirt of Milan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ice Master Mark Messer poses in the stadium where speed skating discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Rho, outskirt of Milan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Workers clean the ice surface during a peed skating Junior World Cup and Olympic test event, in Rho, near Milan, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ice Master Mark Messer poses in the stadium where speed skating discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Rho, outskirt of Milan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ice Master Mark Messer poses in the stadium where speed skating discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Rho, outskirt of Milan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
