Short-lived radioactiveLi andHe ions for hadrontherapy: a simulation study.

Although charged particle therapy (CPT) for cancer treatment has grown these past years, the use of protons and carbon ions for therapy remains debated compared to x-ray therapy. While a biological advantage of protons is not clearly demonstrated, therapy using carbon ions is often pointed out for its high cost. Furthermore, the nuclear interactions undergone by carbons inside the patient are responsible for an additional dose delivered after the Bragg peak, which deteriorates the ballistic advantage of CPT.

Comparison of the [F]-FDG and [F]-FLT PET Tracers in the Evaluation of the Preclinical Proton Therapy Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: The main objective of the present study was to compare the 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]-FDG) and 3'-[F]fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine ([F]-FLT) PET imaging biomarkers for the longitudinal follow-up of small animal proton therapy studies in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Procedures: SK-HEP-1 cells were injected into NMRI nude mice to mimic human HCC. The behavior of [F]-FDG and [F]-FLT tumor uptake was evaluated after proton therapy procedures.

Dosimetry and characterization of a 25-MeV proton beam line for preclinical radiobiology research.

Purpose: With the increase in proton therapy centers, there is a growing need to make progress in preclinical proton radiation biology to give accessible data to medical physicists and practicing radiation oncologists.

Methods: A cyclotron usually producing radioisotopes with a proton beam at an energy of about 25 MeV after acceleration, was used for radiobiology studies. Depleted silicon surface barrier detectors were used for the beam energy measurement.

Investigation of Optimal Physical Parameters for Precise Proton Irradiation of Orthotopic Tumors in Small Animals.

Purpose: The lack of evidence of biomarkers identifying patients who would benefit from proton therapy has driven the emergence of preclinical proton irradiation platforms using advanced small-animal models to mimic clinical therapeutic conditions. This study aimed to determine the optimal physical parameters of the proton beam with a high radiation targeting accuracy, considering small-animal tumors can reach millimetric dimensions at a maximum depth of about 2 cm.

Methods And Materials: Several treatment plans, simulated using Geant4, were generated with different proton beam features to assess the optimal physical parameters for small-volume irradiations.

Analytical dose modeling for preclinical proton irradiation of millimetric targets.

Purpose: Due to the considerable development of proton radiotherapy, several proton platforms have emerged to irradiate small animals in order to study the biological effectiveness of proton radiation. A dedicated analytical treatment planning tool was developed in this study to accurately calculate the delivered dose given the specific constraints imposed by the small dimensions of the irradiated areas.

Methods: The treatment planning system (TPS) developed in this study is based on an analytical formulation of the Bragg peak and uses experimental range values of protons.