Durham Reporter

An anonymous donor has contributed $50 million to the Duke University Health System to support the establishment of a proton beam therapy center. This donation marks the largest philanthropic gift ever received by the health system.

“This is a historic gift, both for Duke and for the state of North Carolina,” said Vincent E. Price, Ph.D., president of Duke University. “The Duke Proton Center will have a profound impact on cancer care in our region, and we are very grateful for the generous donor support that is making these advances possible.”

The proton beam therapy facility at Duke is scheduled to open by 2029 with an estimated total cost of $120 million. Once operational, it aims to provide treatment to approximately 800 patients annually.

“The addition of proton therapy to our clinical capabilities will make a huge difference in the lives of cancer patients across the region,” stated Craig Albanese, M.D., CEO of Duke University Health System.

Proton therapy offers more precision compared to conventional radiation therapy, minimizing side effects by delivering radiation directly to tumors while sparing healthy tissue. This precision is particularly crucial for pediatric cases and tumors in sensitive areas like the head and neck.

“We want to reduce treatment side effects as much as possible to improve our patients’ quality of life and function,” said Chris Willett, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology. “For brain tumor patients, that means reducing toxicity that damages cognition and in breast cancer patients that means limiting damage to heart function.”

The development also promises advancements in research and clinical trials leveraging Duke’s expertise in medical physics and oncology. “Research and clinical trials with proton therapy will drive innovations in cancer treatment and enhance Duke’s impact across multiple missions, including clinical care, research, and education,” explained Mary E. Klotman, M.D., executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University.

In adults, proton therapy is preferred for treating complex malignancies such as head and neck cancers, large skull base tumors, esophageal cancer, localized recurrent cancers, certain ocular tumors; it is becoming standard for low-grade gliomas, meningiomas, breast cancers among others.

“Proton therapy is increasingly becoming the treatment of choice for a variety of different cancers,” noted Michael Kastan, M.D., Ph.D., executive director of Duke Cancer Institute. “Having proton therapy at Duke will enable us to push those boundaries even further improving current applications and developing new ones through innovative clinical trials.”