Metrology for advanced radiotherapy using particle beams with ultra-high pulse dose rates

Short Name: UHDpulse, Project Number: 18HLT04
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Reference standards and codes of practice for ultra-high pulse dose rate cancer treatment


FLASH radiotherapy is a promising cancer treatment under development, that involves an almost instantaneous delivery of the prescribed radiation dose by only a few radiation pulses of ultra-high dose rate. Such an approach has been found to dramatically reduce adverse side effects to healthy tissues but as effective for tumour control as conventional radiotherapies. Furthermore, laser-driven particle accelerators, which are considered to be the next generation of cost-effective accelerators for radiotherapy, deliver radiation pulses of ultra-high dose rate. Both, FLASH radiotherapy and laser-driven beams present significant metrological challenges as there are significantly higher doses rate during each radiation pulse. Before full implementation in clinical practice, a method to precisely measure radiation doses at these ultra-high pulse dose rates is required, to ensure reliable delivery of prescribed doses to patients.

 

The project has developed a measurement framework, encompassing reference standards traceable to SI units and validated reference methods for dose measurements at ultra-high pulse dose rates. It also characterised detector systems, developed traceable and validated methods for relative dosimetry, characterised stray radiation, and contributed to codes of practice. Outcomes will be promoted to standards organisations, international agencies, manufacturers, and end users. The framework will encourage development of novel laser-driven medical accelerators. Ultimately, the aim is confidence that patients will receive their prescribed dose, for safer, cost effective, cancer treatments.

 

Links
Project website
Publications
Other Participants
ADVACAM, s.r.o. (Czechia)
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (Spain)
Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (Switzerland)
Fyzikální ústav AV ČR, v.v.i. (Czechia)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf e. V. (Germany)
Institut Curie (France)
Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
PTW-Freiburg Physikalisch-Technische Werkstätten Dr. Pychlau GmbH (Germany)
Queen's University of Belfast (United Kingdom)
Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
Ústav jaderné fyziky AV ČR, v.v.i. (Czechia)