City of Hope is consistently ranked among the leading cancer centers in the world. They continuously seek technologies that enable physicians to deliver more effective, less invasive treatments to a broader range of patients.
When Dr. Jonathan Kessler, Chief of Interventional Radiology at City of Hope, first encountered CAS-One IR at the SIR Annual Meeting in 2024, the concept immediately resonated with him.
"What I found particularly compelling was that CAS-One IR is much more than a navigation system. It provides a complete workflow that allows physicians to thoroughly plan an ablation procedure, place needles with a high degree of precision, and immediately verify whether the entire tumor and surrounding safety margin have been successfully treated. I recognized the potential to help us treat more patients with percutaneous ablation, improve procedural efficiency, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes and quality of life."
With his efforts and conviction, City of Hope initiated a clinical evaluation of CAS-One IR in May 2025. The first procedures focused on liver tumors, allowing physicians, anesthesiologists, CT technologists and nursing staff to gain experience with the new workflow and fully integrate the technology into their clinical practice.
The benefits became apparent quickly. Physicians gained confidence in treating increasingly complex cases, including tumors located close to critical anatomical structures or lesions that were difficult to visualize using conventional imaging alone. The ability to confirm ablations margins immediately post-treatment provided an additional level of assurance that the ultimate objective had been achieved.
One specific case stood out during the first few cases – Dr. Kessler said of the procedure:
"This tumor was in a very challenging position—a subcapsular tumor, large, and high in the liver dome—where we needed to be extremely careful about damaging the diaphragm while ensuring adequate margins. This case became easy, and AblaSure showed us that we achieved sufficient margins. Without CAS-One IR, we could not have, and would not have, treated this patient."
As their experience grew, the use of CAS-One IR rapidly expanded from selected cases to routine clinical practice. Today, the system is considered the standard workflow for liver tumor ablation and is expected to support kidney ablation in the future.
Reflecting on the evaluation, Dr. Kessler commented:
"I am very satisfied with this project. CASCINATION delivered on its promises. The implementation was managed professionally, and the support provided throughout the evaluation was outstanding. After only a few procedures, our team was able to leverage the full capabilities of the system. We gained confidence quickly and were soon treating patients who previously would not have been considered suitable candidates for percutaneous ablation. The level of confidence we have in our treatments today is fundamentally different. In addition, we reduced procedure times by more than one hour per case, creating meaningful benefits for both patients and the hospital."
One of the City of Hope cases re-rendered in the newest software of CAS-One IR
Following the successful evaluation and the presentation of clinical and operational results, City of Hope decided to acquire CAS-One IR in early 2026 – the 100 patients treated mark will come quite soon.
A special thank you goes to the City of Hope Interventional Radiology team, including Dr. Jonathan Kessler, Dr. Jake Choi, Dr. Cherng Chao, Dr. Edward Boas and Dr. Sanjit Datta, whose dedication to innovation and patient-centered care made this successful implementation possible.
Thanks to the CASCINATION team of Shauna Munter, Thijs Stoker, and Olivia Altamirano.