8th Baltic Congress of Radiology

Radioprotection and management

oral abstract

In the field of radiation oncology, particle therapy is promising to be more efficient cancer treatment modality due to favorable physical and biological properties over conventional gamma radiation therapy. In clinic, particle therapy has already shown benefits in treatment of pediatric oncological malignancies, brain and head and neck region tumors and other localisations in vicinity of critical vital organs. Moreover, particle therapy has shown the clinical possibility of treatment for tumors that are otherwise radioresistant to conventional radiation therapy, such as gliomas and sarcomas. The Baltic States is one of the only regions in Europe without a dedicated infrastructure for the highly beneficial particle therapy treatment. In the recent years, with the active work of CERN Baltic Group in close collaboration with CERN scientists, a conceptual design proposal has been made on Advanced Particle Therapy facility in the Baltic States. This paper reports on the progress made and current status of the conceptual design of the proposed facility, outlining key medical and physics rationales of particle therapy, clinical treatment improvements, novel research pathways and industrial sector involvement possibilities.

This conceptual design report covers the overall technical concept of the proposed facility and focuses on the three main functions of it: clinical treatment center, novel research facility and a dedicated infrastructure for involvement and development of relevant industry sectors. The technical concept for the proposed facility is based on a design in development at CERN by the researchers of the NIMMS (Next Ion Medical Machine Study) group – the helium synchrotron. The design of helium synchrotron is a novel and „first - ever” medical treatment synchrotron made specifically for acceleration of helium ions. A dedicated section in the paper gives the main technical details regarding the proposed accelerator complex. From the clinical perspective, the physical properties and associated biological effects of helium ions are explored in comparison with the clinically used proton and carbon ion beams. Therapeutic applicability of helium ion therapy is given, identifying oncological malignancies benefiting the most from the novel treatment. The technical design of the proposed accelerator complex includes dedicated section on the linear accelerator for production of medical use radioisotopes. Possibilities of exotic radioisotope production are given and potential benefits and applications in the nuclear medicine field have also been identified. The proposed facility provides infrastructure for novel research possibilities in the fields of radiation oncology, medical physics, nuclear medicine, radiation chemistry and nuclear physics, radiobiology, accelerator physics and engineering and others. Possible research directions have been identified, delivering world class research in the corresponding fields. Pathways of relevant industrial sector involvement in construction of the facility have been identified and future perspectives of research and development of technology innovations are proposed, addressing the needs of the international particle therapy community.

A report on conceptual design proposal has been made for a novel Advanced Particle Therapy center in Baltic States, based on justifications from both physics and medical perspectives. The proposed facility would initially provide the clinically approved proton beams and perform the necessary clinical research in order to fully use the clinical potential of helium beams. With decreased lateral scattering, increased linear energy transfer and relative biological effect compared to proton beams, while having lesser production of neutrons, decreased projectile fragmentation „tail” and lower associated biological effect uncertainties, helium ion beams would provide an efficient novel treatment modality in radiation oncology array. The identified research directions would be complementary with the proposed clinical activities, aiming to increase precision of treatment delivery with studies in radiobiology, FLASH therapy, beam physics modelling, novel dosimetry and others. The relevant industrial sectors are identified with possibilities of cooperation in the technical design of the facility and opportunities of accelerator complex construction, increasing the „know-how” and skills in accelerator technology field within the Baltic States region.

Conceptual design report of Advanced Particle Therapy center in the Baltic States has been made, providing a possibility of a novel cancer treatment option - helium ion therapy. Report covers aspects and detailed descriptions of the three main proposed functions of the facility, indicating the possible benefits of helium ion beams over other clinically used ion types. Concept report of the proposed facility has been presented within CERN NIMMS collaboration, CERN Baltic Group, at TIARA Consortium meeting and Baltic assembly, with the conceptual idea presented also at 13th International Particle Accelerator Conference. At the current stage the proposed concept has received support within the mentioned scientific communities and political parties. The next stage for the proposed project has been identified as receiving support from medical community within the Baltic States – radiology and radiation oncology.

In the recent years with the work of CERN Baltic group in collaboration with CERN scientists, a conceptual design for Advanced Particle therapy in the Baltic States has been made focused on the novel helium ion beam therapy. The aim of this paper is to report to the medical community within the Baltic States the current state of this project and outline clinical, physics, technological, research and industry involvement aspects.

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