Proton Beam Therapy: How the Large Hadron Collider Cures Cancer

Modern cancer treatment is largely a combination of 4 techniques — surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy — each of which has associated advantages and drawbacks. Conventional radiotherapy utilises targeted beams of X-rays to maximise the destructive radiation dose to cancerous tumours within the body whilst minimising the dose to the surrounding healthy tissue. Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) is a more effective alternative to conventional radiotherapy, where high energy protons (60-250 MeV) are used in place of X-rays. The advantage of PBT is a consequence of the markedly different dose deposition profile of protons: as a result of the Bragg Peak most of the energy is deposited in the last few millimetres of the proton path. This allows a precise tuning of the delivered dose through appropriate selection of the proton beam energy and leads to much lower doses of radiation outside the target volume. This has particular significance in the treatment of deep-lying tumours in the head, neck and central nervous system, particularly for children whose bodies are still developing and are particularly susceptible to long-term radiation damage.
This talk will discuss the rationale behind PBT and the accelerator technology needed to provide high precision beams of protons that was first developed for particle physics. The NHS PBT facilities will also be presented, along with the technology employed for treating patients, as well as a look at what the future might hold for particle therapy and its role in cancer treatment.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher SCI London Regional Group