Moffitt Bringing Proton Therapy to Tampa Bay for Cervical Cancer Patients
Moffitt Cancer Center is set to introduce proton therapy the greater Tampa Bay area starting in 2026. This advanced technology promises a brighter future, fewer side effects, and improved outcomes for patients with gynecological cancers, including cervical cancer.
What Is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer develops in the cervix, the passageway connecting the uterus to the vagina. It typically begins with abnormal changes in the cells on the cervix's surface. Without early intervention, these changes can lead to cancer, which may spread to other parts of the body if untreated.
Cervical cancer is often linked to high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). While many HPV infections resolve on their own, some can cause abnormal cell changes that lead to cervical cancer. Although cervical cancer is mostly preventable through the HPV vaccine, thousands of women suffer from the disease annually and require treatment, with the American Cancer Society estimating more than 13,000 new cases diagnosed in 2025.
Routine cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination remain two of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of cervical cancer and detect abnormal cell changes early, when treatment is often most successful.
How Is Cervical Cancer Treated?
Treatment for cervical cancer depends on the stage of the disease, whether it has returned, and each patient's individual needs.
When diagnosed in the early stages, cervical cancer is highly treatable using traditional radiation treatments. For other cases, proton therapy, an advanced form of radiation treatment that uses high-energy proton beams to precisely target tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissues and organs, is especially beneficial.
These cases include:
- Patients with localized recurrences of cervical cancer or other gynecological cancers
- Patients whose cancers are not well-suited for surgery
- Patients who require re-irradiation
- Patients concerned with long-term side effects, including fertility issues
- Younger patients who may benefit from minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissues
What Is Proton Therapy and How Can It Help Cervical Cancer Patients?
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that delivers highly targeted treatment while reducing radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues.
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Kosj Yamoah, MD, PhD, chair of Moffitt’s Radiation Oncology Department., said, “This technology will transform what’s possible for our patients. Moffitt will offer a full range of radiotherapeutic and holistic options that treat the whole patient – not just the disease. Best of all, we can provide them with the best possible outcomes close to home in Pasco County.”
Moffitt’s new proton therapy system, a Proteus®ONE supplied by Belgium’s IBA, will offer countless benefits that will help patients return to their lives faster and with fewer side effects. For patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer, proton therapy offers a new chance for effective treatment and provides hope where other methods may fall short.
How Does Proton Therapy Differ From Traditional Radiation Therapy?
The 120,000-square-foot Moffitt ambulatory clinic at Speros will also hold the Moffitt Richard M. Shulze Family Foundation Proton Center.
Unlike conventional radiation therapy that uses photons, proton therapy uses positively charged particles called protons to deliver radiation more precisely.
While conventional radiation uses photons, proton therapy uses protons, or positively charged atomic particles. Protons can be precisely controlled to release much of their energy directly into the tumor, thereby reducing damage to nearby healthy tissue. This precision makes it particularly effective for treating gynecological cancers, as it minimizes damage to vital nearby structures such as the bladder, rectum, and reproductive organs.
By limiting radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, proton therapy may help reduce certain treatment-related side effects while supporting patients' quality of life during and after treatment.
When Will Proton Therapy Be Available at Moffitt?
Moffitt plans to begin treating patients with proton therapy in 2026.
Moffitt will begin the installation of its proton therapy system in March 2025 at its SPEROS FL campus in Pasco County, Florida. As the first health system in Tampa Bay to receive a proton therapy unit, Moffitt will begin treating patients as early as 2026.
The addition of proton therapy expands Moffitt's comprehensive cancer treatment capabilities and offers eligible patients in the Tampa Bay region access to this advanced radiation technology closer to home, reducing the need to travel elsewhere for care.
