Toward an effective use of laser-driven very high energy electrons for radiotherapy: Feasibility assessment of multi-field and intensity modulation irradiation schemes

Year: 2020

Authors: Labate L., Palla D., Panetta D., Avella F., Baffigi F., Brandi F., Di Martino F., Fulgentini L., Giulietti A., Koster P., Terzani D., Tomassini P., Traino C., Gizzi LA.

Autors Affiliation: CNR, Ist Nazl Ottica, Pisa, Italy; CNR, Ist Fisiol Clin, Pisa, Italy; Azienza Osped Univ Pisana, Unita Operat Fis Sanit, Pisa, Italy; Lawrence Berkeley Natl Lab, LBL, Berkeley, CA USA.

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.

Journal/Review: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Volume: 10 (1)      Pages from: 17307-1  to: 17307-11

More Information: The research leading to these results has received funding from the CNR funded Italian research Network ELIItaly. We acknowledge financial contribution from the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No. 653782 EuPRAXIA.
KeyWords: RADIOBIOLOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS; GLOBAL ACCESS; BEAMS; ACCELERATORS; SIMULATION; INJECTION; DOSIMETRY; BUNCHES; VHEE; FILM
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74256-w

Citations: 44
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