Speaker
Description
Progress in cancer therapy with ions heavier than protons, i.e., notably helium and carbon, but also as heavy as oxygen and neon, requires research and development capability preferably in a broad user environment. Heavy ion therapy offers significant advantages in the treatment of many types of cancer compared to protons and, even more so, to conventional radiotherapy with high energy x-rays (photons). Ion research activity however is currently limited in the US from the absence of accelerator facilities offering ion beams for therapy and research – placing the U.S. significantly behind Europe and Asia. With dramatic advances in beam delivery technologies and next generation compact accelerators and gantries, the potential exists to not just match existing facilities which use conventional accelerator technologies but to create a unique facility that will play a leadership role in ion research, particle therapy, and technical innovation. A new, funded center for ion therapy research is under construction in Waco, TX, in collaboration with recognized accelerator entities both academic and industrial with medical partnerships. The advanced accelerator technologies, which are entering the engineering phase, will produce beams for both clinical and research applications, offering a complete range of ions, intensities and energies required by the medical community, including the capability to perform ultra-high dose irradiation (FLASH) research. FLASH, a recent research initiative, which has the potential to reduce cancer treatment toxicities and improve cure outcomes, is now considered a critical capability for a competitive research center. The beam intensities for FLASH using ions are well beyond those provided by current medical ion accelerators which are primarily synchrotrons. The work reported here describes an innovative staging approach for the Center’s accelerator complex with low and high energy cyclotrons which inject into a high-energy, 250-MeV/nucleon Fixed Field Gradient therapy accelerator which is also capable of variable energy extraction. This state-of-the-art cancer research center housed within a comprehensive cancer facility will provide the resources to promote ion therapy in the U.S, including preclinical/clinical trials and protocols between modalities, and also support broad ion beam accelerator and delivery R&D.
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