News Release
CANCER RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
From the 50th AAPM Meeting in Houston, July 27 to July 31
9. INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE MAY ALLOW REAL-TIME IMAGING FOR PROTON THERAPY
One of the most effective means of treating cancers is via radiation therapy. However, ionization and its by-products damage both the cancer and normal cells. Accuracy and precision of the radiation delivered to the tumor and the ability to spare normal tissue determine patient outcomes. Recently, high energy proton beams have been shown to be more precise in delivering energy to the tumor than photon beams, but even with advanced treatment planning, the delivery of the beam to the tumor may deviate from the treatment plan due to the complications of the anatomy and motion of patients.
The ability to see the location and measure the amount of energy delivered during the treatment in real time would allow radiation oncologists to adjust the energy delivered to the tumor assuring that the prescribed energy is delivered at right location. Since high energy protons and photons induce gamma rays via interaction with nuclei in the human body by imaging the gamma rays, one could see the location and measure the amount of energy delivered during treatment. Unfortunately, the penetration power of the emitted gamma rays is too high to be stopped and imaged with conventional medical imaging modalities in real time.
Using principles adapted from gamma ray astronomy, a research team at the University of Florida is working to develop a modality capable of imaging the gamma rays in 3D. The team has designed an imager using a new material, LaBr3, with high stopping power. The researchers are now optimizing the design and doing bench-top testing, which has demonstrated the feasibility of this concept with a precision of about 5mm at 10 cm distance.
As the next step, the team will prototype and test the imager in radiation therapy clinical facilities using proton and photon beams. Dr. Yuxin Feng, a member of the Florida team, believes that the challenge of accelerating image reconstruction speed to achieve real or near real time imaging is achievable with the development of image reconstruction and computing power, making real-time imaging in proton therapy a reality.
Talk (TU-D-352-3), "A Design of Compton Cameras for Imaging Gamma Emission in Proton Therapy" is at 1:54 p.m. on Tuesday July 29, 2008 in Room 352. Abstract: http://www.aapm.org/meetings/amos2/pdf/35-9435-45230-12.pdf
****************************************************************RELATED LINKS
- AAPM home page: http://www.aapm.org
- Abstracts and search form: http://www.aapm.org/meetings/08AM/MeetingProgram.asp
- Press Guide: http://www.aapm.org/meetings/08AM/VirtualPressRoom/
- Background article about how medical physics has revolutionized medicine:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/538208/
HOW TO COVER THE MEETING
Reporters who would like to attend the meeting in person should fill out the press registration form on the AAPM Virtual Press Room. See: http://www.aapm.org/meetings/08AM/VirtualPressRoom/documents/pressregform.pdf.
Reporters who would like to cover the conference remotely will find releases and articles on the Virtual Press Room highlighting many of the interesting and important talks presented at the meeting. Even if you can't make it to Houston, the Virtual Press Room will make it possible to write stories about the meeting from your desk.
ABOUT AAPM
The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) is a scientific, educational, and professional nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the application of physics to the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. The association encourages innovative research and development, helps disseminate scientific and technical information, fosters the education and professional development of medical physicists, and promotes the highest quality medical services for patients. In 2008, AAPM will celebrate its 50th year of serving patients, physicians, and physicists. Please visit the association's Web site at http://www.aapm.org/.
ABOUT AIP
Headquartered in College Park, MD., the American Institute of Physics is a not-for-profit membership corporation chartered in New York State in 1931 for the purpose of promoting the advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics and its application to human welfare.
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Media contacts:
Jason Socrates Bardi, American Institute of Physics,
301-209-3091 (office) 858-775-4080 (cell)
jbardi@aip.org
Jeff Limmer, AAPM Media Relations Subcommittee Chair
jeffl@aspirus.org