Thesis

Beam Angle Optimization for Combined IMPT and FLASH Radiotherapy

• Call:

  ProtoTera Call 2020

• Academic Year:

  2020/2021

• Supervisor:

  Jose Marques

• Co-Supervisor:

  Joao Seco

• Host Institution:

  CTN - Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear do Instituto Superior Técnico

• Granting Degree Institution:

  Instituto Superior Técnico (Universidade de Lisboa)

• Typology:

  Mixed

• Abroad Institution:

  Instituto Superior Técnico (Universidade de Lisboa)

• Abroad Supervisor:

• Abstract:

  Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) is one of the most important recent developments in radiation oncology. It enables precise conformation of the radiation dose to the target volume, while minimizing radiation to closely surrounding organs. It has the potential to significantly reduce long-term morbidity and improve local control. However, IMPT can deliver radiation to healthy organs along the path of proton beam, which can potentially yield increased radiation toxicity. Recent developments in FLASH radiotherapy has allowed for the delivery of radiation beams at very high dose rates (dose rate ≥50 Gy/s), that ultimately protect healthy organs from radiation effects [1]. At the moment, it is still unknown how to apply clinically FLASH to treat patients. Single beam dose of 10 Gy is not common in standard radiotherapy, because of the very high risk of radiation toxicity. In addition, the true mechanism behind FLASH is still unknown. Combined IMPT and FLASH could potentially improve the therapeutic ratio by allowing improved tumor coverage with IMPT and reducing radiation side effects with FLASH. The main objective of the PhD project is to investigate how to combine IMRT with FLASH for use in a clinical environment, in a collaboration between IST (Portugal) and DKFZ German Cancer Research Center (Germany).