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Clements N, Bazalova-Carter M. Monte Carlo calculated absorbed-dose energy dependence of EBT3 and EBT4 films for 5-200 MeV electrons and 100 keV-15 MeV photons. J Appl Clin Med Phys 2024:e14529. [PMID: 39269999 DOI: 10.1002/acm2.14529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To use Monte Carlo simulations to study the absorbed-dose energy dependence of GAFChromic EBT3 and EBT4 films for 5-200 MeV electron beams and 100 keV-15 MeV photon beams considering two film compositions: a previous EBT3 composition (Bekerat et al.) and the final composition of EBT3/current composition of EBT4 (Palmer et al.). METHODS A water phantom was simulated with films at 5-50 mm depth in 5 mm intervals. The water phantom was irradiated with flat, monoenergetic 5-200 MeV electron beams and 100 and 150 keV kilovoltage and 1-15 MeV megavoltage photon beams and the dose to the active layer of the films was scored. Simulations were rerun with the films defined as water to compare the absorbed-dose response of film to water,f - 1 ( Q ) = D f i l m D w a t e r $f^{-1}(Q)=\frac{D_{film}}{D_{water}}$ . RESULTS For electrons, the Bekerat et al. composition had variations inf - 1 ( Q ) $f^{-1}(Q)$ of up to( 1.9 ± 0.1 ) % $(1.9\,\pm \,0.1)\%$ from 5 to 200 MeV. Similarly, the Palmer et al. composition had differences inf - 1 ( Q ) $f^{-1}(Q)$ up to( 2.5 ± 0.2 ) % $(2.5 \pm 0.2)\%$ from 5 to 200 MeV. For photons,f - 1 ( Q ) $f^{-1}(Q)$ varied up to( 2.4 ± 0.3 ) % $(2.4 \pm 0.3)\%$ and( 4.5 ± 0.7 ) % $(4.5 \pm 0.7)\%$ from 100 keV to 15 MeV for the Bekerat et al. and Palmer et al. compositions, respectively. The depth of films did not appear to significantly affectf - 1 ( Q ) $f^{-1}(Q)$ for photons at any energy and for electrons at energies > $>$ 50 MeV. However, for 5 and 10 MeV electrons, decreases of up to( 10.2 ± 1.1 ) % $(10.2 \pm 1.1)\%$ inf - 1 ( Q ) $f^{-1}(Q)$ were seen due to stacked films and increased beam attenuation in films compared to water. CONCLUSIONS The up to( 2.5 ± 0.2 ) % $(2.5 \pm 0.2)\%$ and( 4.5 ± 0.7 ) % $(4.5 \pm 0.7)\%$ variations inf - 1 ( Q ) $f^{-1}(Q)$ for electrons and photons, respectively, across the energies considered in this study indicate the importance of calibrating films with the energy intended for measurement. Additionally, this work emphasizes potential issues with stacking films to measure depth dose curves, particularly for electron beams with energies ≤ $\le$ 10 MeV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Clements
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Orobeti S, Sima LE, Porosnicu I, Diplasu C, Giubega G, Cojocaru G, Ungureanu R, Dobrea C, Serbanescu M, Mihalcea A, Stancu E, Staicu CE, Jipa F, Bran A, Axente E, Sandel S, Zamfirescu M, Tiseanu I, Sima F. First in vitro cell co-culture experiments using laser-induced high-energy electron FLASH irradiation for the development of anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14866. [PMID: 38937505 PMCID: PMC11211417 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65137-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Radiation delivery at ultrahigh dose rates (UHDRs) has potential for use as a new anticancer therapeutic strategy. The FLASH effect induced by UHDR irradiation has been shown to maintain antitumour efficacy with a reduction in normal tissue toxicity; however, the FLASH effect has been difficult to demonstrate in vitro. The objective to demonstrate the FLASH effect in vitro is challenging, aiming to reveal a differential response between cancer and normal cells to further identify cell molecular mechanisms. New high-intensity petawatt laser-driven accelerators can deliver very high-energy electrons (VHEEs) at dose rates as high as 1013 Gy/s in very short pulses (10-13 s). Here, we present the first in vitro experiments carried out on cancer cells and normal non-transformed cells concurrently exposed to laser-plasma accelerated (LPA) electrons. Specifically, melanoma cancer cells and normal melanocyte co-cultures grown on chamber slides were simultaneously irradiated with LPA electrons. A non-uniform dose distribution on the cell cultures was revealed by Gafchromic films placed behind the chamber slide supporting the cells. In parallel experiments, cell co-cultures were exposed to pulsed X-ray irradiation, which served as positive controls for radiation-induced nuclear DNA double-strand breaks. By measuring the impact on discrete areas of the cell monolayers, the greatest proportion of the damaged DNA-containing nuclei was attained by the LPA electrons at a cumulative dose one order of magnitude lower than the dose obtained by pulsed X-ray irradiation. Interestingly, in certain discrete areas, we observed that LPA electron exposure had a different effect on the DNA damage in healthy normal human epidermal melanocyte (NHEM) cells than in A375 melanoma cells; here, the normal cells were less affected by the LPA exposure than cancer cells. This result is the first in vitro demonstration of a differential response of tumour and normal cells exposed to FLASH irradiation and may contribute to the development of new cell culture strategies to explore fundamental understanding of FLASH-induced cell effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefana Orobeti
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, 060031, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Livia Elena Sima
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, 060031, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ioana Porosnicu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Constantin Diplasu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Georgiana Giubega
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Gabriel Cojocaru
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Razvan Ungureanu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Cosmin Dobrea
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Mihai Serbanescu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Alexandru Mihalcea
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Elena Stancu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Cristina Elena Staicu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Florin Jipa
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Alexandra Bran
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Emanuel Axente
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Simion Sandel
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Marian Zamfirescu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Ion Tiseanu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Felix Sima
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125, Magurele, Romania.
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Wanstall HC, Burkart F, Dinter H, Kellermeier M, Kuropka W, Mayet F, Vinatier T, Santina E, Chadwick AL, Merchant MJ, Henthorn NT, Köpke M, Stacey B, Jaster-Merz S, Jones RM. First in vitro measurement of VHEE relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in lung and prostate cancer cells using the ARES linac at DESY. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10957. [PMID: 38740830 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60585-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Very high energy electrons (VHEE) are a potential candidate for radiotherapy applications. This includes tumours in inhomogeneous regions such as lung and prostate cancers, due to the insensitivity of VHEE to inhomogeneities. This study explores how electrons in the VHEE range can be used to perform successful in vitro radiobiological studies. The ARES (accelerator research experiment at SINBAD) facility at DESY, Hamburg, Germany was used to deliver 154 MeV electrons to both prostate (PC3) and lung (A549) cancer cells in suspension. Dose was delivered to samples with repeatability and uniformity, quantified with Gafchromic film. Cell survival in response to VHEE was measured using the clonogenic assay to determine the biological effectiveness of VHEE in cancer cells for the first time using this method. Equivalent experiments were performed using 300 kVp X-rays, to enable VHEE irradiated cells to be compared with conventional photons. VHEE irradiated cancer cell survival was fitted to the linear quadratic (LQ) model (R2 = 0.96-0.97). The damage from VHEE and X-ray irradiated cells at doses between 1.41 and 6.33 Gy are comparable, suggesting similar relative biological effectiveness (RBE) between the two modalities. This suggests VHEE is as damaging as photon radiotherapy and therefore could be used to successfully damage cancer cells during radiotherapy. The RBE of VHEE was quantified as the relative doses required for 50% (D0.5) and 10% (D0.1) cell survival. Using these values, VHEE RBE was measured as 0.93 (D0.5) and 0.99 (D0.1) for A549 and 0.74 (D0.5) and 0.93 (D0.1) for PC3 cell lines respectively. For the first time, this study has shown that 154 MeV electrons can be used to effectively kill lung and prostate cancer cells, suggesting that VHEE would be a viable radiotherapy modality. Several studies have shown that VHEE has characteristics that would offer significant improvements over conventional photon radiotherapy for example, electrons are relatively easy to steer and can be used to deliver dose rapidly and with high efficiency. Studies have shown improved dose distribution with VHEE in treatment plans, in comparison to VMAT, indicating that VHEE can offer improved and safer treatment plans with reduced side effects. The biological response of cancer cells to VHEE has not been sufficiently studied as of yet, however this initial study provides some initial insights into cell damage. VHEE offers significant benefits over photon radiotherapy and therefore more studies are required to fully understand the biological effectiveness of VHEE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah C Wanstall
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 4BX, UK.
- Daresbury Laboratory, The Cockcroft Institute, Daresbury, Warrington, WA4 4AD, UK.
| | - Florian Burkart
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hannes Dinter
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Max Kellermeier
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Willi Kuropka
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Frank Mayet
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Vinatier
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elham Santina
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Amy L Chadwick
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Michael J Merchant
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Nicholas T Henthorn
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Michael Köpke
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Blae Stacey
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Jaster-Merz
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Roger M Jones
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Daresbury Laboratory, The Cockcroft Institute, Daresbury, Warrington, WA4 4AD, UK
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Böhlen TT, Germond JF, Desorgher L, Veres I, Bratel A, Landström E, Engwall E, Herrera FG, Ozsahin EM, Bourhis J, Bochud F, Moeckli R. Very high-energy electron therapy as light-particle alternative to transmission proton FLASH therapy - An evaluation of dosimetric performances. Radiother Oncol 2024; 194:110177. [PMID: 38378075 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2024.110177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Clinical translation of FLASH-radiotherapy (RT) to deep-seated tumours is still a technological challenge. One proposed solution consists of using ultra-high dose rate transmission proton (TP) beams of about 200-250 MeV to irradiate the tumour with the flat entrance of the proton depth-dose profile. This work evaluates the dosimetric performance of very high-energy electron (VHEE)-based RT (50-250 MeV) as a potential alternative to TP-based RT for the clinical transfer of the FLASH effect. METHODS Basic physics characteristics of VHEE and TP beams were compared utilizing Monte Carlo simulations in water. A VHEE-enabled research treatment planning system was used to evaluate the plan quality achievable with VHEE beams of different energies, compared to 250 MeV TP beams for a glioblastoma, an oesophagus, and a prostate cancer case. RESULTS Like TP, VHEE above 100 MeV can treat targets with roughly flat (within ± 20 %) depth-dose distributions. The achievable dosimetric target conformity and adjacent organs-at-risk (OAR) sparing is consequently driven for both modalities by their lateral beam penumbrae. Electron beams of 400[500] MeV match the penumbra of 200[250] MeV TP beams and penumbra is increased for lower electron energies. For the investigated patient cases, VHEE plans with energies of 150 MeV and above achieved a dosimetric plan quality comparable to that of 250 MeV TP plans. For the glioblastoma and the oesophagus case, although having a decreased conformity, even 100 MeV VHEE plans provided a similar target coverage and OAR sparing compared to TP. CONCLUSIONS VHEE-based FLASH-RT using sufficiently high beam energies may provide a lighter-particle alternative to TP-based FLASH-RT with comparable dosimetric plan quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Tobias Böhlen
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-François Germond
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Desorgher
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Izabella Veres
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Fernanda G Herrera
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Esat Mahmut Ozsahin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean Bourhis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - François Bochud
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raphaël Moeckli
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Bateman JJ, Buchanan E, Corsini R, Farabolini W, Korysko P, Garbrecht Larsen R, Malyzhenkov A, Ortega Ruiz I, Rieker V, Gerbershagen A, Dosanjh M. Development of a novel fibre optic beam profile and dose monitor for very high energy electron radiotherapy at ultrahigh dose rates. Phys Med Biol 2024; 69:085006. [PMID: 38478998 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ad33a0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Objective. Very high energy electrons (VHEE) in the range of 50-250 MeV are of interest for treating deep-seated tumours with FLASH radiotherapy (RT). This approach offers favourable dose distributions and the ability to deliver ultra-high dose rates (UHDR) efficiently. To make VHEE-based FLASH treatment clinically viable, a novel beam monitoring technology is explored as an alternative to transmission ionisation monitor chambers, which have non-linear responses at UHDR. This study introduces the fibre optic flash monitor (FOFM), which consists of an array of silica optical fibre-based Cherenkov sensors with a photodetector for signal readout.Approach. Experiments were conducted at the CLEAR facility at CERN using 200 MeV and 160 MeV electrons to assess the FOFM's response linearity to UHDR (characterised with radiochromic films) required for FLASH radiotherapy. Beam profile measurements made on the FOFM were compared to those using radiochromic film and scintillating yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) screens.Main results. A range of photodetectors were evaluated, with a complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) camera being the most suitable choice for this monitor. The FOFM demonstrated excellent response linearity from 0.9 Gy/pulse to 57.4 Gy/pulse (R2= 0.999). Furthermore, it did not exhibit any significant dependence on the energy between 160 MeV and 200 MeV nor the instantaneous dose rate. Gaussian fits applied to vertical beam profile measurements indicated that the FOFM could accurately provide pulse-by-pulse beam size measurements, agreeing within the error range of radiochromic film and YAG screen measurements, respectively.Significance. The FOFM proves to be a promising solution for real-time beam profile and dose monitoring for UHDR VHEE beams, with a linear response in the UHDR regime. Additionally it can perform pulse-by-pulse beam size measurements, a feature currently lacking in transmission ionisation monitor chambers, which may become crucial for implementing FLASH radiotherapy and its associated quality assurance requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Bateman
- John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RH, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Buchanan
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Corsini
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Wilfrid Farabolini
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Korysko
- John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RH, United Kingdom
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Robert Garbrecht Larsen
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Particle Therapy Research Centre (PARTREC), Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Malyzhenkov
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Iñaki Ortega Ruiz
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vilde Rieker
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Blindern, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexander Gerbershagen
- Particle Therapy Research Centre (PARTREC), Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Manjit Dosanjh
- John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RH, United Kingdom
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Meyrin, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
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Naceur A, Bienvenue C, Romano P, Chilian C, Carrier JF. Extending deterministic transport capabilities for very-high and ultra-high energy electron beams. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2796. [PMID: 38307920 PMCID: PMC11226718 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-51143-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Focused Very-High Energy Electron (VHEE, 50-300 MeV) and Ultra-High Energy Electron (UHEE, > 300 MeV) beams can accurately target both large and deeply seated human tumors with high sparing properties, while avoiding the spatial requirements and cost of proton and heavy ion facilities. Advanced testing phases are underway at the CLEAR facilities at CERN (Switzerland), NLCTA at Stanford (USA), and SPARC at INFN (Italy), aiming to accelerate the transition to clinical application. Currently, Monte Carlo (MC) transport is the sole paradigm supporting preclinical trials and imminent clinical deployment. In this paper, we propose an alternative: the first extension of the nuclear-reactor deterministic chain NJOY-DRAGON for VHEE and UHEE applications. We have extended the Boltzmann-Fokker-Planck (BFP) multigroup formalism and validated it using standard radio-oncology benchmarks, complex assemblies with a wide range of atomic numbers, and comprehensive irradiation of the entire periodic table. We report that [Formula: see text] of water voxels exhibit a BFP-MC deviation below [Formula: see text] for electron energies under [Formula: see text]. Additionally, we demonstrate that at least [Formula: see text] of voxels of bone, lung, adipose tissue, muscle, soft tissue, tumor, steel, and aluminum meet the same criterion between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. For water, the thorax, and the breast intra-operative benchmark, typical average BFP-MC deviations of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were observed at [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. By irradiating the entire periodic table, we observed similar performance between lithium ([Formula: see text]) and cerium ([Formula: see text]). Deficiencies observed between praseodymium ([Formula: see text]) and einsteinium ([Formula: see text]) have been reported, analyzed, and quantified, offering critical insights for the ongoing development of the Evaluated Nuclear Data File mode in NJOY.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Naceur
- École Polytechnique, SLOWPOKE Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering Institute, Montréal, H3T1J4, Canada.
- CRCHUM, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2L4M1, Canada.
| | - Charles Bienvenue
- École Polytechnique, Engineering Physics Department, Biomedical Engineering Institute, Montréal, H3T1J4, Canada
| | - Paul Romano
- Computational Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Cornelia Chilian
- École Polytechnique, SLOWPOKE Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering Institute, Montréal, H3T1J4, Canada
| | - Jean-François Carrier
- Department of Physics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H3T1J4, Canada
- CRCHUM, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2L4M1, Canada
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7
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Horváth D, Grittani G, Precek M, Versaci R, Bulanov SV, Olšovcová V. Time dynamics of the dose deposited by relativistic ultra-short electron beams. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68:22NT01. [PMID: 37797651 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ad00a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Ultra-short electron beams are used as ultra-fast radiation source for radiobiology experiments aiming at very high energy electron beams (VHEE) radiotherapy with very high dose rates. Laser plasma accelerators are capable of producing electron beams as short as 1 fs and with tunable energy from few MeV up to multi-GeV with compact footprint. This makes them an attractive source for applications in different fields, where the ultra-short (fs) duration plays an important role. The time dynamics of the dose deposited by electron beams with energies in the range 50-250 MeV have been studied and the results are presented here. The results set a quantitative limit to the maximum dose rate at which the electron beams can impart dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Horváth
- ELI Beamlines Facility, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, Za Radnicí 835, 252 41 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - G Grittani
- ELI Beamlines Facility, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, Za Radnicí 835, 252 41 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - M Precek
- ELI Beamlines Facility, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, Za Radnicí 835, 252 41 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - R Versaci
- ELI Beamlines Facility, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, Za Radnicí 835, 252 41 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - S V Bulanov
- ELI Beamlines Facility, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, Za Radnicí 835, 252 41 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - V Olšovcová
- ELI Beamlines Facility, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, Za Radnicí 835, 252 41 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
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8
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Rahman M, Trigilio A, Franciosini G, Moeckli R, Zhang R, Böhlen TT. FLASH radiotherapy treatment planning and models for electron beams. Radiother Oncol 2022; 175:210-221. [PMID: 35964763 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2022.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The FLASH effect designates normal tissue sparing at ultra-high dose rate (UHDR, >40 Gy/s) compared to conventional dose rate (∼0.1 Gy/s) irradiation while maintaining tumour control and has the potential to improve the therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy (RT). UHDR high-energy electron (HEE, 4-20 MeV) beams are currently a mainstay for investigating the clinical potential of FLASH RT for superficial tumours. In the future very-high energy electron (VHEE, 50-250 MeV) UHDR beams may be used to treat deep-seated tumours. UHDR HEE treatment planning focused at its initial stage on accurate dosimetric modelling of converted and dedicated UHDR electron RT devices for the clinical transfer of FLASH RT. VHEE treatment planning demonstrated promising dosimetric performance compared to clinical photon RT techniques in silico and was used to evaluate and optimise the design of novel VHEE RT devices. Multiple metrics and models have been proposed for a quantitative description of the FLASH effect in treatment planning, but an improved experimental characterization and understanding of the FLASH effect is needed to allow for an accurate and validated modelling of the effect in treatment planning. The importance of treatment planning for electron FLASH RT will augment as the field moves forward to treat more complex clinical indications and target sites. In this review, TPS developments in HEE and VHEE are presented considering beam models, characteristics, and future FLASH applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahbubur Rahman
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Antonio Trigilio
- Physics Department, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy; INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Rome Section, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaia Franciosini
- Physics Department, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy; INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Rome Section, Rome, Italy
| | - Raphaël Moeckli
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Rongxiao Zhang
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA; Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Till Tobias Böhlen
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
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9
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Sarti A, De Maria P, Battistoni G, De Simoni M, Di Felice C, Dong Y, Fischetti M, Franciosini G, Marafini M, Marampon F, Mattei I, Mirabelli R, Muraro S, Pacilio M, Palumbo L, Rocca L, Rubeca D, Schiavi A, Sciubba A, Tombolini V, Toppi M, Traini G, Trigilio A, Patera V. Deep Seated Tumour Treatments With Electrons of High Energy Delivered at FLASH Rates: The Example of Prostate Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 11:777852. [PMID: 35024354 PMCID: PMC8744000 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.777852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Different therapies are adopted for the treatment of deep seated tumours in combination or as an alternative to surgical removal or chemotherapy: radiotherapy with photons (RT), particle therapy (PT) with protons or even heavier ions like 12C, are now available in clinical centres. In addition to these irradiation modalities, the use of Very High Energy Electron (VHEE) beams (100–200 MeV) has been suggested in the past, but the diffusion of that technique was delayed due to the needed space and budget, with respect to standard photon devices. These disadvantages were not paired by an increased therapeutic efficacy, at least when comparing to proton or carbon ion beams. In this contribution we investigate how recent developments in electron beam therapy could reshape the treatments of deep seated tumours. In this respect we carefully explored the application of VHEE beams to the prostate cancer, a well-known and studied example of deep seated tumour currently treated with high efficacy both using RT and PT. The VHEE Treatment Planning System was obtained by means of an accurate Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of the electrons interactions with the patient body. A simple model of the FLASH effect (healthy tissues sparing at ultra-high dose rates), has been introduced and the results have been compared with conventional RT. The study demonstrates that VHEE beams, even in absence of a significant FLASH effect and with a reduced energy range (70–130 MeV) with respect to implementations already explored in literature, could be a good alternative to standard RT, even in the framework of technological developments that are nowadays affordable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Sarti
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy
| | - Patrizia De Maria
- Scuola post-laurea in Fisica Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze e Biotecnologie medico-chirurgiche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Battistoni
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Micol De Simoni
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy.,Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Cinzia Di Felice
- Unità di Fisica Sanitaria, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico Umberto I, Roma, Italy
| | - Yunsheng Dong
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Marta Fischetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy
| | - Gaia Franciosini
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy.,Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Michela Marafini
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy.,Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche "E. Fermi", Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Marampon
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Oncologiche e Anatomo Patologiche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Mattei
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Mirabelli
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy.,Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Silvia Muraro
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Pacilio
- Unità di Fisica Sanitaria, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico Umberto I, Roma, Italy
| | - Luigi Palumbo
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy
| | - Loredana Rocca
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Damiana Rubeca
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Angelo Schiavi
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy
| | - Adalberto Sciubba
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione dei Laboratori di Frascati, Roma, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Tombolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Oncologiche e Anatomo Patologiche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Toppi
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione dei Laboratori di Frascati, Roma, Italy
| | - Giacomo Traini
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Trigilio
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy.,Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Patera
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Sezione di Roma I, Roma, Italy
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10
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Masilela TAM, Delorme R, Prezado Y. Dosimetry and radioprotection evaluations of very high energy electron beams. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20184. [PMID: 34642417 PMCID: PMC8511248 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99645-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Very high energy electrons (VHEEs) represent a promising alternative for the treatment of deep-seated tumors over conventional radiotherapy (RT), owing to their favourable dosimetric characteristics. Given the high energy of the electrons, one of the concerns has been the production of photoneutrons. In this article we explore the consequence, in terms of neutron yield in a water phantom, of using a typical electron applicator in conjunction with a 2 GeV and 200 MeV VHEE beam. Additionally, we evaluate the resulting ambient neutron dose equivalent at various locations between the phantom and a concrete wall. Through Monte Carlo (MC) simulations it was found that an applicator acts to reduce the depth of the dose build-up region, giving rise to lower exit doses but higher entrance doses. Furthermore, neutrons are injected into the entrance region of the phantom. The highest dose equivalent found was approximately 1.7 mSv/Gy in the vicinity of the concrete wall. Nevertheless, we concluded that configurations of VHEEs studied in this article are similar to conventional proton therapy treatments in terms of their neutron yield and ambient dose equivalent. Therefore, a clinical implementation of VHEEs would likely not warrant additional radioprotection safeguards compared to conventional RT treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thongchai A M Masilela
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation radiobiologie et cancer, 91400, Orsay, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation radiobiologie et cancer, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - Rachel Delorme
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LPSC-IN2P3, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Yolanda Prezado
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation radiobiologie et cancer, 91400, Orsay, France.
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation radiobiologie et cancer, 91400, Orsay, France.
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11
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Ronga MG, Cavallone M, Patriarca A, Leite AM, Loap P, Favaudon V, Créhange G, De Marzi L. Back to the Future: Very High-Energy Electrons (VHEEs) and Their Potential Application in Radiation Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4942. [PMID: 34638424 PMCID: PMC8507836 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of innovative approaches that would reduce the sensitivity of healthy tissues to irradiation while maintaining the efficacy of the treatment on the tumor is of crucial importance for the progress of the efficacy of radiotherapy. Recent methodological developments and innovations, such as scanned beams, ultra-high dose rates, and very high-energy electrons, which may be simultaneously available on new accelerators, would allow for possible radiobiological advantages of very short pulses of ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) therapy for radiation therapy to be considered. In particular, very high-energy electron (VHEE) radiotherapy, in the energy range of 100 to 250 MeV, first proposed in the 2000s, would be particularly interesting both from a ballistic and biological point of view for the establishment of this new type of irradiation technique. In this review, we examine and summarize the current knowledge on VHEE radiotherapy and provide a synthesis of the studies that have been published on various experimental and simulation works. We will also consider the potential for VHEE therapy to be translated into clinical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Ronga
- Centre de Protonthérapie d’Orsay, Department of Radiation Oncology, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 91898 Orsay, France; (M.G.R.); (M.C.); (A.P.); (A.M.L.); (P.L.); (G.C.)
- Thales AVS Microwave & Imaging Sub-Systems, 78141 Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
| | - Marco Cavallone
- Centre de Protonthérapie d’Orsay, Department of Radiation Oncology, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 91898 Orsay, France; (M.G.R.); (M.C.); (A.P.); (A.M.L.); (P.L.); (G.C.)
| | - Annalisa Patriarca
- Centre de Protonthérapie d’Orsay, Department of Radiation Oncology, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 91898 Orsay, France; (M.G.R.); (M.C.); (A.P.); (A.M.L.); (P.L.); (G.C.)
| | - Amelia Maia Leite
- Centre de Protonthérapie d’Orsay, Department of Radiation Oncology, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 91898 Orsay, France; (M.G.R.); (M.C.); (A.P.); (A.M.L.); (P.L.); (G.C.)
- INSERM LITO U1288, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, University Paris Saclay, 91898 Orsay, France
| | - Pierre Loap
- Centre de Protonthérapie d’Orsay, Department of Radiation Oncology, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 91898 Orsay, France; (M.G.R.); (M.C.); (A.P.); (A.M.L.); (P.L.); (G.C.)
| | - Vincent Favaudon
- INSERM U 1021-CNRS UMR 3347, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, University Paris Saclay, 91898 Orsay, France;
| | - Gilles Créhange
- Centre de Protonthérapie d’Orsay, Department of Radiation Oncology, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 91898 Orsay, France; (M.G.R.); (M.C.); (A.P.); (A.M.L.); (P.L.); (G.C.)
| | - Ludovic De Marzi
- Centre de Protonthérapie d’Orsay, Department of Radiation Oncology, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 91898 Orsay, France; (M.G.R.); (M.C.); (A.P.); (A.M.L.); (P.L.); (G.C.)
- INSERM LITO U1288, Campus Universitaire, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, University Paris Saclay, 91898 Orsay, France
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12
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First theoretical determination of relative biological effectiveness of very high energy electrons. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11242. [PMID: 34045625 PMCID: PMC8160353 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90805-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Very high energy electrons (VHEEs, E > 70 MeV) present promising clinical advantages over conventional beams due to their increased range, improved penumbra and relative insensitivity to tissue heterogeneities. They have recently garnered additional interest in their application to spatially fractionated radiotherapy or ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) therapy. However, the lack of radiobiological data limits their rapid development. This study aims to provide numerical biologically-relevant information by characterizing VHEE beams (100 and 300 MeV) against better-known beams (clinical energy electrons, photons, protons, carbon and neon ions). Their macro- and microdosimetric properties were compared, using the dose-averaged linear energy transfer ([Formula: see text]) as the macroscopic metric, and the dose-mean lineal energy [Formula: see text] and the dose-weighted lineal energy distribution, yd(y), as microscopic metrics. Finally, the modified microdosimetric kinetic model was used to calculate the respective cell survival curves and the theoretical RBE. From the macrodosimetric point of view, VHEEs presented a potential improved biological efficacy over clinical photon/electron beams due to their increased [Formula: see text]. The microdosimetric data, however, suggests no increased biological efficacy of VHEEs over clinical electron beams, resulting in RBE values of approximately 1, giving confidence to their clinical implementation. This study represents a first step to complement further radiobiological experiments.
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13
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Esplen N, Mendonca MS, Bazalova-Carter M. Physics and biology of ultrahigh dose-rate (FLASH) radiotherapy: a topical review. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:23TR03. [PMID: 32721941 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abaa28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ultrahigh dose-rate radiotherapy (RT), or 'FLASH' therapy, has gained significant momentum following various in vivo studies published since 2014 which have demonstrated a reduction in normal tissue toxicity and similar tumor control for FLASH-RT when compared with conventional dose-rate RT. Subsequent studies have sought to investigate the potential for FLASH normal tissue protection and the literature has been since been inundated with publications on FLASH therapies. Today, FLASH-RT is considered by some as having the potential to 'revolutionize radiotherapy'. FLASH-RT is considered by some as having the potential to 'revolutionize radiotherapy'. The goal of this review article is to present the current state of this intriguing RT technique and to review existing publications on FLASH-RT in terms of its physical and biological aspects. In the physics section, the current landscape of ultrahigh dose-rate radiation delivery and dosimetry is presented. Specifically, electron, photon and proton radiation sources capable of delivering ultrahigh dose-rates along with their beam delivery parameters are thoroughly discussed. Additionally, the benefits and drawbacks of radiation detectors suitable for dosimetry in FLASH-RT are presented. The biology section comprises a summary of pioneering in vitro ultrahigh dose-rate studies performed in the 1960s and early 1970s and continues with a summary of the recent literature investigating normal and tumor tissue responses in electron, photon and proton beams. The section is concluded with possible mechanistic explanations of the FLASH normal-tissue protection effect (FLASH effect). Finally, challenges associated with clinical translation of FLASH-RT and its future prospects are critically discussed; specifically, proposed treatment machines and publications on treatment planning for FLASH-RT are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nolan Esplen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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14
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Poppinga D, Kranzer R, Farabolini W, Gilardi A, Corsini R, Wyrwoll V, Looe HK, Delfs B, Gabrisch L, Poppe B. VHEE beam dosimetry at CERN Linear Electron Accelerator for Research under ultra-high dose rate conditions. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2020; 7. [PMID: 34037536 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/abcae5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work is the dosimetric characterization of a plane parallel ionization chamber under defined beam setups at the CERN Linear Electron Accelerator for Research (CLEAR). A laser driven electron beam with energy of 200 MeV at two different field sizes of approximately 3.5 mm FWHM and approximately 7 mm FWHM were used at different pulse structures. Thereby the dose-per-pulse range varied between approximately 0.2 and 12 Gy per pulse. This range represents approximately conventional dose rate range beam conditions up to ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) beam conditions. The experiment was based on a water phantom which was integrated into the horizontal beamline and radiochromic films and an Advanced Markus ionization chamber was positioned in the water phantom. In addition, the experimental setup were modelled in the Monte Carlo simulation environment FLUKA. In a first step the radiochromic film measurements were used to verify the beamline setup. Depth dose distributions and dose profiles measured by radiochromic film were compared with Monte Carlo simulations to verify the experimental conditions. Second, the radiochromic films were used for reference dosimetry to characterize the ionization chamber. In particular, polarity effects and the ion collection efficiency of the ionization chamber were investigated for both field sizes and the complete dose rate range. As a result of the study, significant polarity effects and recombination loss of the ionization chamber were shown and characterized. However, the work shows that the behavior of the ionization chamber at the laser driven beam line at the CLEAR facility is comparable to classical high dose-per-pulse electron beams. This allows the use of ionization chambers on the CLEAR system and thus enables active dose measurement during the experiment. Compared to passive dose measurement with film, this is an important step forward in the experimental equipment of the facility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael Kranzer
- PTW Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | | | - Antonio Gilardi
- Federico II, DIETI, University of Napoli, Napoli, Italy.,CERN, CH1211 Geneva, Switzerland.,National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Section of Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Hui Khee Looe
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Björn Delfs
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Gabrisch
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Björn Poppe
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
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15
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Labate L, Palla D, Panetta D, Avella F, Baffigi F, Brandi F, Di Martino F, Fulgentini L, Giulietti A, Köster P, Terzani D, Tomassini P, Traino C, Gizzi LA. Toward an effective use of laser-driven very high energy electrons for radiotherapy: Feasibility assessment of multi-field and intensity modulation irradiation schemes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17307. [PMID: 33057078 PMCID: PMC7560873 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74256-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy with very high energy electrons has been investigated for a couple of decades as an effective approach to improve dose distribution compared to conventional photon-based radiotherapy, with the recent intriguing potential of high dose-rate irradiation. Its practical application to treatment has been hindered by the lack of hospital-scale accelerators. High-gradient laser-plasma accelerators (LPA) have been proposed as a possible platform, but no experiments so far have explored the feasibility of a clinical use of this concept. We show the results of an experimental study aimed at assessing dose deposition for deep seated tumours using advanced irradiation schemes with an existing LPA source. Measurements show control of localized dose deposition and modulation, suitable to target a volume at depths in the range from 5 to 10 cm with mm resolution. The dose delivered to the target was up to 1.6 Gy, delivered with few hundreds of shots, limited by secondary components of the LPA accelerator. Measurements suggest that therapeutic doses within localized volumes can already be obtained with existing LPA technology, calling for dedicated pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Labate
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Daniele Palla
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Panetta
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Federico Avella
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Federica Baffigi
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fernando Brandi
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Martino
- Unità Operativa di Fisica Sanitaria, Azienza Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Fulgentini
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Giulietti
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Petra Köster
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide Terzani
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBL, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Paolo Tomassini
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Traino
- Unità Operativa di Fisica Sanitaria, Azienza Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Leonida A Gizzi
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy.
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16
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Subiel A, Moskvin V, Welsh GH, Cipiccia S, Reboredo D, DesRosiers C, Jaroszynski DA. Challenges of dosimetry of ultra-short pulsed very high energy electron beams. Phys Med 2017; 42:327-331. [PMID: 28506453 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2017.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Very high energy electrons (VHEE) in the range from 100 to 250MeV have the potential of becoming an alternative modality in radiotherapy because of their improved dosimetric properties compared with 6-20MV photons generated by clinical linear accelerators (LINACs). VHEE beams have characteristics unlike any other beams currently used for radiotherapy: femtosecond to picosecond duration electron bunches, which leads to very high dose per pulse, and energies that exceed that currently used in clinical applications. Dosimetry with conventional online detectors, such as ionization chambers or diodes, is a challenge due to non-negligible ion recombination effects taking place in the sensitive volumes of these detectors. FLUKA and Geant4 Monte Carlo (MC) codes have been employed to study the temporal and spectral evolution of ultrashort VHEE beams in a water phantom. These results are complemented by ion recombination measurements employing an IBA CC04 ionization chamber for a 165MeV VHEE beam. For comparison, ion recombination has also been measured using the same chamber with a conventional 20MeV electron beam. This work demonstrates that the IBA CC04 ionization chamber exhibits significant ion recombination and is therefore not suitable for dosimetry of ultrashort pulsed VHEE beams applying conventional correction factors. Further study is required to investigate the applicability of ion chambers in VHEE dosimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Subiel
- National Physical Laboratory, Medical Radiation Science, Teddington TW11 0LW, UK.
| | - Vadim Moskvin
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Gregor H Welsh
- Department of Physics, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK
| | - Silvia Cipiccia
- Department of Physics, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK; Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - David Reboredo
- Department of Physics, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK
| | - Colleen DesRosiers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Dino A Jaroszynski
- Department of Physics, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK.
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17
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Schüler E, Eriksson K, Hynning E, Hancock SL, Hiniker SM, Bazalova‐Carter M, Wong T, Le Q, Loo BW, Maxim PG. Very high‐energy electron (
VHEE
) beams in radiation therapy; Treatment plan comparison between
VHEE
,
VMAT
, and
PPBS. Med Phys 2017; 44:2544-2555. [DOI: 10.1002/mp.12233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emil Schüler
- Department of Radiation Oncology Stanford School of Medicine Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | | | | | - Steven L. Hancock
- Department of Radiation Oncology Stanford School of Medicine Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | - Susan M. Hiniker
- Department of Radiation Oncology Stanford School of Medicine Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | | | - Tony Wong
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy Center Seattle WA USA
| | - Quynh‐Thu Le
- Department of Radiation Oncology Stanford School of Medicine Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | - Billy W. Loo
- Department of Radiation Oncology Stanford School of Medicine Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | - Peter G. Maxim
- Department of Radiation Oncology Stanford School of Medicine Stanford University Stanford CA USA
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18
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Yang X, Brunetti E, Gil DR, Welsh GH, Li FY, Cipiccia S, Ersfeld B, Grant DW, Grant PA, Islam MR, Tooley MP, Vieux G, Wiggins SM, Sheng ZM, Jaroszynski DA. Three electron beams from a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator and the energy apportioning question. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43910. [PMID: 28281679 PMCID: PMC5345066 DOI: 10.1038/srep43910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Laser-wakefield accelerators are compact devices capable of delivering ultra-short electron bunches with pC-level charge and MeV-GeV energy by exploiting the ultra-high electric fields arising from the interaction of intense laser pulses with plasma. We show experimentally and through numerical simulations that a high-energy electron beam is produced simultaneously with two stable lower-energy beams that are ejected in oblique and counter-propagating directions, typically carrying off 5–10% of the initial laser energy. A MeV, 10s nC oblique beam is ejected in a 30°–60° hollow cone, which is filled with more energetic electrons determined by the injection dynamics. A nC-level, 100s keV backward-directed beam is mainly produced at the leading edge of the plasma column. We discuss the apportioning of absorbed laser energy amongst the three beams. Knowledge of the distribution of laser energy and electron beam charge, which determine the overall efficiency, is important for various applications of laser-wakefield accelerators, including the development of staged high-energy accelerators.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Yang
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - E Brunetti
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - D Reboredo Gil
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - G H Welsh
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - F Y Li
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - S Cipiccia
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - B Ersfeld
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - D W Grant
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - P A Grant
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - M R Islam
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - M P Tooley
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - G Vieux
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK.,Institute of Physics of the ASCR, ELI-Beamlines, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - S M Wiggins
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - Z M Sheng
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK.,Laboratory of Laser Plasmas and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - D A Jaroszynski
- SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
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NAKAJIMA K. Laser-driven electron beam and radiation sources for basic, medical and industrial sciences. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2015; 91:223-45. [PMID: 26062737 PMCID: PMC4565973 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.91.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
To date active research on laser-driven plasma-based accelerators have achieved great progress on production of high-energy, high-quality electron and photon beams in a compact scale. Such laser plasma accelerators have been envisaged bringing a wide range of applications in basic, medical and industrial sciences. Here inheriting the groundbreaker's review article on "Laser Acceleration and its future" [Toshiki Tajima, (2010)],(1)) we would like to review recent progress of producing such electron beams due to relativistic laser-plasma interactions followed by laser wakefield acceleration and lead to the scaling formulas that are useful to design laser plasma accelerators with controllability of beam energy and charge. Lastly specific examples of such laser-driven electron/photon beam sources are illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhisa NAKAJIMA
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju 500-712, Republic of Korea
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Laser-Driven Very High Energy Electron/Photon Beam Radiation Therapy in Conjunction with a Robotic System. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/app5010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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