Monte Carlo-Based Radiobiological Investigation of the Most Optimal Ion Beam Forming SOBP for Particle Therapy.

Proton (p) and carbon (C) ion beams are in clinical use for cancer treatment, although other particles such as He, Be, and B ions have more recently gained attention. Identification of the most optimal ion beam for radiotherapy is a challenging task involving, among others, radiobiological characterization of a beam, which is depth-, energy-, and cell type- dependent. This study uses the FLUKA and MCDS Monte Carlo codes in order to estimate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for several ions of potential clinical interest such as p, He, Li, Be, B, and C forming a spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP).

Theoretical and experimental determination of scaling factors in electron dosimetry for 3D-printed polylactic acid.

Purpose: Plastic phantoms are commonly used in daily routine for dosimetric tasks in radiation therapy. Although water is the reference medium according to the dosimetric protocols, measurements with nonwater phantoms are easier to be performed. To succeed absorbed dose determination, certain scaling factors have to be applied to the acquired measurements.

Stopping power for particle therapy: the generic library libdEdx and clinically relevant stopping-power ratios for light ions.

Purpose: Stopping-power data enter at a number of different places in particle therapy and their uncertainties have a direct impact on the accuracy of the therapy, e.g., in treatment planning.

Comparison of optimized single and multifield irradiation plans of antiproton, proton and carbon ion beams.

Background And Purpose: Antiprotons have been suggested as a possibly superior modality for radiotherapy, due to the energy released when antiprotons annihilate, which enhances the Bragg peak and introduces a high-LET component to the dose. However, concerns are expressed about the inferior lateral dose distribution caused by the annihilation products.

Methods: We use the Monte Carlo code FLUKA to generate depth-dose kernels for protons, antiprotons, and carbon ions.