Proton radiotherapy delivers more accurate cancer treatment with less collateral damage

Researchers have succeeded in making a model of breathing movement that allows for the precise measurement of narrow beams to a dummy tumor by simulating the motion and physical properties of the chest anatomy in a model. This research was presented at the 3rd ESTRO (European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) Forum in Barcelona, Spain.

Radiotherapy using protons can deliver more accurate treatment to a tumor while reducing the dose to surrounding tissue. However, in mobile organs such as the lung, precise targeting of the dose is difficult.

Rosalind Perrin, PhD, from the Centre for Proton Therapy at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland, described the method she and colleagues have developed to test the application of proton therapy to lung cancer. The method uses a delivery technique called rescanning, which helps to mitigate the effect of motion. The researchers are also working to develop practical ways to implement it in the clinic for patient treatments. more