Prog Med Phys.
2020 Sep;31(S1):S80.
Status and Prospects in Particle Therapy
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Abstract
- Purpose
The charged particle therapy is one of the most advanced modalities for cancer treatment. While most patients have been treated with a proton beam, the clinical centers using a carbon beam are gradually increasing in the particle therapy. We briefly review the current challenges and prospects of particle therapy, with a focus on the proton and carbon beams.
Materials and Methods
History of particle beam therapy was reviewed briefly. The physical and biological aspects of the particle beam were introduced, and the proton and carbon beam were compared. We not only reported the status of facilities of particle therapy, but also briefly reviewed the clinical results. Finally, we provided a brief review of advanced technologies of using particle therapy.
Results
In 1946, the clinical use of particles was initially proposed by Robert Wilson.G In 1954, the particle therapy began at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) using proton. The LBL investigated various ion species, which were helium, carbon, neon, and others, for ion-beam therapy from 1975 to 1992. However, the LBL terminated all investigations of particle therapy after the trials with several particle species in 1992. Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) was initiated at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in 1994. Treatment using particle beams has potential advantages due to physical and biological properties compared to photon beam therapy. Carbon ion beams having high linear energy transfer show high relative biological effectiveness in cell killing, particularly at the Bragg peak. Proton and Carbon therapy facilities are currently 89 and 12 centers in the world and continue to grow in number. According to PTCOG statistics, a total of 154,097 patients were treated with particle therapy in the world from 1954 to December 2015, of which 131,134 (85.1%) were treated with protons and 193,76 (12.6%) with carbon ions. Recent available technologies of particle therapy include fast pencilbeam scanning, superconducting rotating gantry, respiratory motion management, and accurate beam modeling for treatment planning system. These techniques may provide a precise treatment, operational efficiency, and patient comfort. Ongoing technological developments include the use of multiple ion beams, effective beam delivery, accurate biological modeling, and downsizing facility.
Conclusions
Particle therapy is experiencing a revolutionary advance in particle therapy treatment delivery, treatment planning, and treatment quality. The ability for the clinical, physical, biological development will contribute to both performance improvement and cost reduction of particle therapy and will raise the quality and availability in medical care. For the next decade, further improvements are expected in particle therapy’s efficiency, robustness, and accuracy. More hospital-based, state-of-the-art particle therapy facilities will be built and increasing numbers of patients will be treated.
