A 7-year-old boy, Stephen De La Torre, has become the first patient to receive treatment at Stanford Medicine’s groundbreaking ultracompact proton therapy facility after having a rare malignant brain tumor removed.
Stephen’s proton therapy treatments mark a significant milestone, as he prepares to complete his radiotherapy and return home to resume his life as an energetic, active child. More importantly, his experience represents the beginning of a new era in cancer care, making this advanced therapy much more accessible to patients across Northern California and, in the future, worldwide.
“Our new ability to offer protons is really exciting, especially for pediatric patients, because in many cases it lowers their risk of long-term treatment side effects,” said Susan Hiniker, MD, Stephen’s pediatric radiation oncologist at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
Innovative design
Stanford Medicine’s facility is the first of its kind globally, notable for its compact, cost-effective equipment that fits in a much smaller space than traditional proton therapy centers. Previously, patients in Northern California often had to travel hundreds of miles for such treatments, as conventional facilities require expensive machinery and spaces as large as football fields. The innovative design, created in partnership with two medical technology companies, is set to lower barriers to proton therapy worldwide.
This week, the team will also begin treating adult patients with protons, which can be used for a wide range of tumors, including those in the head and neck, spine, lungs, liver, and prostate.
“The key is being able to eliminate cancer without causing unacceptable collateral damage,” noted Bill W. Loo Jr., MD Ph.D., professor of radiation oncology and a leader in bringing proton therapy to Stanford Medicine.
“With protons, we can deposit the dose of radiation in a more controlled way,” Loo added.
Beneficial for Children
Proton therapy is especially beneficial for children like Stephen because young bodies are highly sensitive to even low doses of radiation.
“Being able to send radiation to just the right spot, and avoid healthy tissues nearby, is extremely beneficial,” Hiniker explained.
Stephen’s Journey: Overcoming a Rare Brain Tumor
Earlier this year, after months of unexplained symptoms, Stephen was diagnosed with an ultrarare papillary tumor of the pineal region in his brain. The tumor, about the size of an AA battery, blocked drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, causing headaches, vision issues, nausea, and fatigue. On March 9, surgeons at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford removed as much of the tumor as was safely possible, given its proximity to the brain stem.
“He needed radiation to eliminate the rest,” said Stephen’s mother, Tricia De La Torre. Although the tumor is cancerous, it grows slowly, and proton therapy offered the potential to precisely target the remaining tumor while sparing critical brain structures.
Protons, the charged particles at the center of atoms, can be directed and stopped more precisely than the photons used in X-rays. This allows doctors to closely match the radiation dose to the tumor’s shape and minimize exposure to surrounding tissue.
When Stephen began radiotherapy in April, the closest operating proton therapy centers were in San Diego and Seattle—over 500 miles from his home in Lakeport, California. The need for daily treatments over six weeks made such travel impractical.
Stephen’s family rallied together, with his mother accompanying him to most treatments, his father caring for his sister, and his grandparents helping with logistics and encouragement.
Initially, Stephen received standard X-ray radiation at Stanford Medicine, using a custom mask resembling a San Francisco 49ers football helmet—an homage to his favorite player, Nick Bosa. Throughout, Stephen displayed remarkable bravery and optimism.
As the new proton therapy facility neared readiness, Stephen’s care team identified him as the ideal candidate to be its first patient. He received his first proton treatment on Thursday, with six more planned before returning home in mid-June. His family is already planning a celebration, and Stephen is eager to rejoin his friends and favorite sports.
“He’s really excited about it,” said his mother. “He’s been telling everybody, ‘I’m the first patient!’”
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Featured image: Tricia and Stephen De La Torre try out the proton therapy chair at the Stanford Medicine Cancer Center in Palo Alto. Photo courtesy: © 2026 Kurt Hickman/Stanford Medicine. Used with permission.
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