Multimodal Image-Guided Helical Tomotherapy - a novel method for high precision radiation treatment

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Frank Zimmermann
• Co-Applicants: Professorin Dr. Anca-Ligia Grosu; Professor Dr. Peter Kneschaurek; Professor Dr. Michael Molls; Privatdozent Dr. Carsten Nieder
• Subject Area: Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiobiology
• Term: from 2005 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 20559607

The proposal aims at integrating helical tomotherapy (HT) in our clinical environment as an additional method enforcing our previous efforts in multimodal image-guided highprecision radiotherapy. HT will be embedded in the current research program which is expanded correspondingly, mainly for evaluating its clinical potential compared to traditional radiotherapy approaches. The program is structured into 8 sub-projects relating to clinical research and 7 to preclinical & basic research. The clinical projects are designed as clinical studies, partly as new ones, partly as addendum to current studies. Based on our expertise in tumour biology and biological image guidance, 5 projects (brain-, head&neck-, prostate-, pancreatic tumours) are initiated to explore the relevance of PET/CT image-guidance in the definition of the PTV and of targeting substructures of the biologically heterogeneous tumor. 4 clinical subprojects are interlinked with a project on quality of life assessment. The preclinical and basic projects aim at evaluating practical aspects of treatment planning. Optimization of HT-treatment procedures, precision of spatial & temporal dose distribution, and the potential of HT for dose-painting strategies will be investigated. To validate dosimetry of HT a program based on Monte Carlo Simulation will be developed. New engineering solutions for more accurate patient positioning are to be explored. At least, with the perspective of treatment response and patient radiation exposure a risk analysis of late sequelae and induction of secondary malignancies for various techniques of conformal radiation therapy including HT is planned.

• DFG Programme: Major Instrumentation Initiatives
• Major Instrumentation: 4D Messphantom ; HI-ART System - Highly Integrated Adaptive Radiotherapy System mit Zubehör
• Instrumentation Group: 3240 Therapiesimulatoren, Dosisprogrammiergeräte ; 3250 Beschleuniger (Medizin)