The first clinical trial with carbon beams generated from the HIMAC accelerator was conducted in June 1994. The total number of patients treated as of February 2007 was in excess of 3,178. In view of the significant growth in the number of protocols, the Japanese government gave its approval for carbon-ion therapy at NIRS as an advanced medical technology in 2003. Such impressive advances have been supported by advanced developments of beam-delivery and accelerator technologies and by maintenance works for high-reliability operation. Based on more than ten years of experience with HIMAC, we recently proposed a new accelerator facility for cancer therapy with carbon ions for widespread use in Japan. The key technologies of the accelerator and beam-delivery systems for this proposed facility have been under development since April 2004, with the main thrust being focused on downsizing the facility for cost reduction. Based on the design and R&D studies for the proposed facility, its construction was begun at Gunma University in April 2006. In addition, our future plans for HIMAC also include the design of a new treatment facility. The design work has already been initiated, and will lead to the further development of therapy using HIMAC. The report describes the status of HIMAC and a summary account of the new accelerator facility for cancer therapy with carbon ions and of the new treatment facility at HIMAC.
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