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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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Liberman A, Lahaye R, Smartsev S, Tata S, Benracassa S, Golovanov A, Levine E, Thaury C, Malka V. Use of spatiotemporal couplings and an axiparabola to control the velocity of peak intensity. OPTICS LETTERS 2024; 49:814-817. [PMID: 38359189 DOI: 10.1364/ol.507713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
This paper presents the first experimental realization of a scheme that allows for the tuning of the velocity of peak intensity of a focal spot with relativistic intensity. By combining a tunable pulse-front curvature with the axial intensity deposition characteristics of an axiparabola, an aspheric optical element, this system provides control over the dynamics of laser-wakefield accelerators. We demonstrate the ability to modify the velocity of peak intensity of ultrashort laser pulses to be superluminal or subluminal. The experimental results are supported by theoretical calculations and simulations, strengthening the case for the axiparabola as a pertinent strategy to achieve more efficient acceleration.
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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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4
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Farr J, Grilj V, Malka V, Sudharsan S, Schippers M. Ultra‐High dose rate radiation production and delivery systems intended for FLASH. Med Phys 2022; 49:4875-4911. [PMID: 35403262 PMCID: PMC9544515 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher dose rates, a trend for radiotherapy machines, can be beneficial in shortening treatment times for radiosurgery and mitigating the effects of motion. Recently, even higher doses (e.g., 100 times greater) have become targeted because of their potential to generate the FLASH effect (FE). We refer to these physical dose rates as ultra‐high (UHDR). The complete relationship between UHDR and the FE is unknown. But UHDR systems are needed to explore the relationship further and to deliver clinical UHDR treatments, where indicated. Despite the challenging set of unknowns, the authors seek to make reasonable assumptions to probe how existing and developing technology can address the UHDR conditions needed to provide beam generation capable of producing the FE in preclinical and clinical applications. As a preface, this paper discusses the known and unknown relationships between UHDR and the FE. Based on these, different accelerator and ionizing radiation types are then discussed regarding the relevant UHDR needs. The details of UHDR beam production are discussed for existing and potential future systems such as linacs, cyclotrons, synchrotrons, synchrocyclotrons, and laser accelerators. In addition, various UHDR delivery mechanisms are discussed, along with required developments in beam diagnostics and dose control systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Farr
- Applications of Detectors and Accelerators to Medicine Meyrin 1217 Switzerland
| | - Veljko Grilj
- Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne 1011 Switzerland
| | - Victor Malka
- Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot 7610001 Israel
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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: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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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6
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Svendsen K, Guénot D, Svensson JB, Petersson K, Persson A, Lundh O. A focused very high energy electron beam for fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5844. [PMID: 33712653 PMCID: PMC7971008 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85451-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
An electron beam of very high energy (50-250 MeV) can potentially produce a more favourable radiotherapy dose distribution compared to a state-of-the-art photon based radiotherapy technique. To produce an electron beam of sufficiently high energy to allow for a long penetration depth (several cm), very large accelerating structures are needed when using conventional radio-frequency technology, which may not be possible due to economical or spatial constraints. In this paper, we show transport and focusing of laser wakefield accelerated electron beams with a maximum energy of 160 MeV using electromagnetic quadrupole magnets in a point-to-point imaging configuration, yielding a spatial uncertainty of less than 0.1 mm, a total charge variation below [Formula: see text] and a focal spot of [Formula: see text]. The electron beam was focused to control the depth dose distribution and to improve the dose conformality inside a phantom of cast acrylic slabs and radiochromic film. The phantom was irradiated from 36 different angles to obtain a dose distribution mimicking a stereotactic radiotherapy treatment, with a peak fractional dose of 2.72 Gy and a total maximum dose of 65 Gy. This was achieved with realistic constraints, including 23 cm of propagation through air before any dose deposition in the phantom.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diego Guénot
- Department of Physics, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jonas Björklund Svensson
- Department of Physics, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, NotkestraSSe 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kristoffer Petersson
- Department of Oncology, The Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Radiation Physics, Department of Haematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Persson
- Department of Physics, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Olle Lundh
- Department of Physics, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden
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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: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [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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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: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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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Focused very high-energy electron beams as a novel radiotherapy modality for producing high-dose volumetric elements. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10837. [PMID: 31346184 PMCID: PMC6658670 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46630-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased inertia of very high-energy electrons (VHEEs) due to relativistic effects reduces scattering and enables irradiation of deep-seated tumours. However, entrance and exit doses are high for collimated or diverging beams. Here, we perform a study based on Monte Carlo simulations of focused VHEE beams in a water phantom, showing that dose can be concentrated into a small, well-defined volumetric element, which can be shaped or scanned to treat deep-seated tumours. The dose to surrounding tissue is distributed over a larger volume, which reduces peak surface and exit doses for a single beam by more than one order of magnitude compared with a collimated beam.
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10
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Montay-Gruel P, Meziani L, Yakkala C, Vozenin MC. Expanding the therapeutic index of radiation therapy by normal tissue protection. Br J Radiol 2018; 92:20180008. [PMID: 29694234 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20180008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Normal tissue damages induced by radiation therapy remain dose-limiting factors in radiation oncology and this is still true despite recent advances in treatment planning and delivery of image-guided radiation therapy. Additionally, as the number of long-term cancer survivors increases, unacceptable complications emerge and dramatically reduce the patients' quality of life. This means that patients and clinicians expect discovery of new options for the therapeutic management of radiation-induced complications. Over the past four decades, research has enhanced our understanding of the pathophysiological, cellular and molecular processes governing normal tissue toxicity. Those processes are complex and involve the cross-talk between the various cells of a tissue, including fibroblasts, endothelial, immune and epithelial cells as well as soluble paracrine factors including growth factors and proteases. We will review the translatable pharmacological approaches that have been developed to prevent, mitigate, or reverse radiation injuries based upon the targeting of cellular and signalling pathways. We will summarize the different steps of the research strategy, from the definition of initial biological hypotheses to preclinical studies and clinical translation. We will also see how novel research and therapeutic hypotheses emerge along the way as well as briefly highlight innovative approaches based upon novel radiotherapy delivery procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Montay-Gruel
- Laboratoire de Radio-Oncologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lydia Meziani
- INSERM, U1030, F-94805, Villejuif, Paris, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de médecine du Kremlin-Bicêtre, Labex LERMIT, DHU TORINO, Paris, France
| | - Chakradhar Yakkala
- Laboratoire de Radio-Oncologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Catherine Vozenin
- Laboratoire de Radio-Oncologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
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11
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Brandi F, Giammanco F, Conti F, Sylla F, Lambert G, Gizzi LA. Note: Real-time monitoring via second-harmonic interferometry of a flow gas cell for laser wakefield acceleration. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2016; 87:086103. [PMID: 27587174 DOI: 10.1063/1.4960399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The use of a gas cell as a target for laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) offers the possibility to obtain stable and manageable laser-plasma interaction process, a mandatory condition for practical applications of this emerging technique, especially in multi-stage accelerators. In order to obtain full control of the gas particle number density in the interaction region, thus allowing for a long term stable and manageable LWFA, real-time monitoring is necessary. In fact, the ideal gas law cannot be used to estimate the particle density inside the flow cell based on the preset backing pressure and the room temperature because the gas flow depends on several factors like tubing, regulators, and valves in the gas supply system, as well as vacuum chamber volume and vacuum pump speed/throughput. Here, second-harmonic interferometry is applied to measure the particle number density inside a flow gas cell designed for LWFA. The results demonstrate that real-time monitoring is achieved and that using low backing pressure gas (<1 bar) and different cell orifice diameters (<2 mm) it is possible to finely tune the number density up to the 10(19) cm(-3) range well suited for LWFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Brandi
- Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory (ILIL), Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - F Giammanco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - F Conti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - F Sylla
- SourceLAB SAS, 86 Rue de Paris, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - G Lambert
- LOA, ENSTA ParisTech, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Université Paris-Saclay, 828 bd des Maréchaux, 91762 Palaiseau Cedex, France
| | - L A Gizzi
- Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory (ILIL), Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Martínez-Rovira I, Fois G, Prezado Y. Dosimetric evaluation of new approaches in GRID therapy using nonconventional radiation sources. Med Phys 2015; 42:685-93. [PMID: 25652482 DOI: 10.1118/1.4905042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Spatial fractionation of the dose has proven to be a promising approach to increase the tolerance of healthy tissue, which is the main limitation of radiotherapy. A good example of that is GRID therapy, which has been successfully used in the management of large tumors with low toxicity. The aim of this work is to explore new avenues using nonconventional sources: GRID therapy by using kilovoltage (synchrotron) x-rays, the use of very high-energy electrons, and proton GRID therapy. They share in common the use of the smallest possible grid sizes in order to exploit the dose-volume effects. METHODS Monte Carlo simulations (penelope/peneasy and geant4/GATE codes) were used as a method to study dose distributions resulting from irradiations in different configurations of the three proposed techniques. As figure of merit, percentage (peak and valley) depth dose curves, penumbras, and central peak-to-valley dose ratios (PVDR) were evaluated. As shown in previous biological experiments, high PVDR values are requested for healthy tissue sparing. A superior tumor control may benefit from a lower PVDR. RESULTS High PVDR values were obtained in the healthy tissue for the three cases studied. When low energy photons are used, the treatment of deep-seated tumors can still be performed with submillimetric grid sizes. Superior PVDR values were reached with the other two approaches in the first centimeters along the beam path. The use of protons has the advantage of delivering a uniform dose distribution in the tumor, while healthy tissue benefits from the spatial fractionation of the dose. In the three evaluated techniques, there is a net reduction in penumbra with respect to radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS The high PVDR values in the healthy tissue and the use of small grid sizes in the three presented approaches might constitute a promising alternative to treat tumors with such spatially fractionated radiotherapy techniques. The dosimetric results presented here support the interest of performing radiobiology experiments in order to evaluate these new avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Martínez-Rovira
- Laboratoire d'Imagerie et Modélisation en Neurobiologie et Cancérologie (IMNC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Campus universitaire, Bât. 440, 1er étage-15 rue Georges Clemenceau, Orsay cedex 91406, France
| | - G Fois
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Strada provinciale Monserrato Sestu km 0.700, Monserrato, Cagliari 09042, Italy
| | - Y Prezado
- Laboratoire d'Imagerie et Modélisation en Neurobiologie et Cancérologie (IMNC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Campus universitaire, Bât. 440, 1er étage-15 rue Georges Clemenceau, Orsay cedex 91406, France
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Oppelt M, Baumann M, Bergmann R, Beyreuther E, Brüchner K, Hartmann J, Karsch L, Krause M, Laschinsky L, Leßmann E, Nicolai M, Reuter M, Richter C, Sävert A, Schnell M, Schürer M, Woithe J, Kaluza M, Pawelke J. Comparison study of in vivo dose response to laser-driven versus conventional electron beam. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2015; 54:155-166. [PMID: 25600561 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-014-0582-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 12/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The long-term goal to integrate laser-based particle accelerators into radiotherapy clinics not only requires technological development of high-intensity lasers and new techniques for beam detection and dose delivery, but also characterization of the biological consequences of this new particle beam quality, i.e. ultra-short, ultra-intense pulses. In the present work, we describe successful in vivo experiments with laser-driven electron pulses by utilization of a small tumour model on the mouse ear for the human squamous cell carcinoma model FaDu. The already established in vitro irradiation technology at the laser system JETI was further enhanced for 3D tumour irradiation in vivo in terms of beam transport, beam monitoring, dose delivery and dosimetry in order to precisely apply a prescribed dose to each tumour in full-scale radiobiological experiments. Tumour growth delay was determined after irradiation with doses of 3 and 6 Gy by laser-accelerated electrons. Reference irradiation was performed with continuous electron beams at a clinical linear accelerator in order to both validate the dedicated dosimetry employed for laser-accelerated JETI electrons and above all review the biological results. No significant difference in radiation-induced tumour growth delay was revealed for the two investigated electron beams. These data provide evidence that the ultra-high dose rate generated by laser acceleration does not impact the biological effectiveness of the particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Oppelt
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany,
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Subiel A, Moskvin V, Welsh GH, Cipiccia S, Reboredo D, Evans P, Partridge M, DesRosiers C, Anania MP, Cianchi A, Mostacci A, Chiadroni E, Di Giovenale D, Villa F, Pompili R, Ferrario M, Belleveglia M, Di Pirro G, Gatti G, Vaccarezza C, Seitz B, Isaac RC, Brunetti E, Wiggins SM, Ersfeld B, Islam MR, Mendonca MS, Sorensen A, Boyd M, Jaroszynski DA. Dosimetry of very high energy electrons (VHEE) for radiotherapy applications: using radiochromic film measurements and Monte Carlo simulations. Phys Med Biol 2014; 59:5811-29. [PMID: 25207591 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/59/19/5811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Very high energy electrons (VHEE) in the range from 100-250 MeV have the potential of becoming an alternative modality in radiotherapy because of their improved dosimetry properties compared with MV photons from contemporary medical linear accelerators. Due to the need for accurate dosimetry of small field size VHEE beams we have performed dose measurements using EBT2 Gafchromic® film. Calibration of the film has been carried out for beams of two different energy ranges: 20 MeV and 165 MeV from conventional radio frequency linear accelerators. In addition, EBT2 film has been used for dose measurements with 135 MeV electron beams produced by a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator. The dose response measurements and percentage depth dose profiles have been compared with calculations carried out using the general-purpose FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) radiation transport code. The impact of induced radioactivity on film response for VHEEs has been evaluated using the MC simulations. A neutron yield of the order of 10(-5) neutrons cm(-2) per incident electron has been estimated and induced activity due to radionuclide production is found to have a negligible effect on total dose deposition and film response. Neutron and proton contribution to the equivalent doses are negligible for VHEE. The study demonstrates that EBT2 Gafchromic film is a reliable dosimeter that can be used for dosimetry of VHEE. The results indicate an energy-independent response of the dosimeter for 20 MeV and 165 MeV electron beams and has been found to be suitable for dosimetry of VHEE.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Subiel
- Department of Physics, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK
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15
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Towards Laser Driven Hadron Cancer Radiotherapy: A Review of Progress. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/app4030402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Lundh O, Rechatin C, Faure J, Ben-Ismaïl A, Lim J, De Wagter C, De Neve W, Malka V. Comparison of measured with calculated dose distribution from a 120-MeV electron beam from a laser-plasma accelerator. Med Phys 2012; 39:3501-8. [DOI: 10.1118/1.4719962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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17
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Mordovanakis AG, Easter J, Naumova N, Popov K, Masson-Laborde PE, Hou B, Sokolov I, Mourou G, Glazyrin IV, Rozmus W, Bychenkov V, Nees J, Krushelnick K. Quasimonoenergetic electron beams with relativistic energies and ultrashort duration from laser-solid interactions at 0.5 kHz. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2009; 103:235001. [PMID: 20366152 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.103.235001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2009] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the production of electron beams from the interaction of relativistically-intense laser pulses with a solid-density SiO(2) target in a regime where the laser pulse energy is approximately mJ and the repetition rate approximately kHz. The electron beam spatial distribution and spectrum were investigated as a function of the plasma scale length, which was varied by deliberately introducing a moderate-intensity prepulse. At the optimum scale length of lambda/2, the electrons are emitted in a collimated beam having a quasimonoenergetic distribution that peaked at approximately 0.8 MeV. A highly reproducible structure in the spatial distribution exhibits an evacuation of electrons along the laser specular direction and suggests that the electron beam duration is comparable to that of the laser pulse. Particle-in-cell simulations which are in good agreement with the experimental results offer insights on the acceleration mechanism by the laser field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aghapi G Mordovanakis
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
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Fuchs T, Szymanowski H, Oelfke U, Glinec Y, Rechatin C, Faure J, Malka V. Treatment planning for laser-accelerated very-high energy electrons. Phys Med Biol 2009; 54:3315-28. [DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/54/11/003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Malka V, Fuchs T, Oelfke U, Szymanowski H, Faure J, Glinec Y, Rechatin C. TU-D-BRA-03: Laser-Accelerated Electrons for Radiation Therapy. Med Phys 2007. [DOI: 10.1118/1.2761400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Faure J, Rechatin C, Norlin A, Lifschitz A, Glinec Y, Malka V. Controlled injection and acceleration of electrons in plasma wakefields by colliding laser pulses. Nature 2006; 444:737-9. [PMID: 17151663 DOI: 10.1038/nature05393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2006] [Accepted: 10/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In laser-plasma-based accelerators, an intense laser pulse drives a large electric field (the wakefield) which accelerates particles to high energies in distances much shorter than in conventional accelerators. These high acceleration gradients, of a few hundreds of gigavolts per metre, hold the promise of compact high-energy particle accelerators. Recently, several experiments have shown that laser-plasma accelerators can produce high-quality electron beams, with quasi-monoenergetic energy distributions at the 100 MeV level. However, these beams do not have the stability and reproducibility that are required for applications. This is because the mechanism responsible for injecting electrons into the wakefield is based on highly nonlinear phenomena, and is therefore hard to control. Here we demonstrate that the injection and subsequent acceleration of electrons can be controlled by using a second laser pulse. The collision of the two laser pulses provides a pre-acceleration stage which provokes the injection of electrons into the wakefield. The experimental results show that the electron beams obtained in this manner are collimated (5 mrad divergence), monoenergetic (with energy spread <10 per cent), tuneable (between 15 and 250 MeV) and, most importantly, stable. In addition, the experimental observations are compatible with electron bunch durations shorter than 10 fs. We anticipate that this stable and compact electron source will have a strong impact on applications requiring short bunches, such as the femtolysis of water, or high stability, such as radiotherapy with high-energy electrons or radiography for materials science.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Faure
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, ENSTA, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France
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Laser literature watch. Photomed Laser Surg 2006; 24:424-53. [PMID: 16875454 DOI: 10.1089/pho.2006.24.424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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