At GSI we are presently developing an alternative method for a very fast (in order of few ms) range adaptation for radiotherapy of moving organs [1] with scanned ion beams to the existing 3D online motion compensation (3DOMC) [2] system. The range adaptation can be achieved by deflecting the ion beam (with the energy E0, see Fig.1) to different positions on a static wedge-shaped energy degrader...

Combination of local therapies with immunotherapy, to convert the individual tumor into an in situ vaccine, is currently considered one of the most promising strategies to defeat cancer. The application of local radiation therapy as an adjuvant to immunotherapy is under active investigation both preclinically and clinically. The recent work of Gameiro et al published in the Red Journal in May t...

The technical performance of ion sources of the Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) type has substantially improved during the last years. This is demonstrated by proof-ofprinciple experiments which have been done using a roomtemperature EBIS, a so-called Dresden EBIS-A, which has been in use for several years. A new superconducting EBIS, a so-called Dresden EBIS-SC, has been taken into operation. ...

The accelerator part of the clinical facility for cancer therapy HIT using energetic proton and ion beams (C, He and O) has been installed during 2006 at the Radiologische Universitätsklinik in Heidelberg, Germany [1]. The commissioning of the injector linac was performed in three steps for the LEBT, the RFQ and the IH-DTL and has successfully ended in December 2006. Some major results are brie...

We propose a multiscale approach to understand the physics related to ion-beam cancer therapy. It allows the calculation of the probability of DNA damage as a result of irradiation of tissues with energetic ions, up to 430 MeV/u. This approach covers different scales, starting from the large scale, defined by the ion stopping, followed by a smaller scale, defined by secondary electrons and radi...

MedAustron is the Austrian center for hadron therapy and non-clinical research. The accelerator design is based on the PIMMS study [1] and features proton beams of up to 800 MeV and carbon ion beams of up to 400 MeV/u. The accelerator is currently being installed and the beam commissioning has started early 2013. The injector comprising three ECR sources, an RFQ and an IH-mode structure has alr...

Our institution established a new treatment facility for carbon ion beam scanning therapy in 2010. The major advantages of scanning beam treatment compared to the passive beam treatment are the following: high dose conformation with less excessive dose to the normal tissues, no bolus compensator and patient collimator/multi-leaf collimator, better dose efficiency by reducing the number of scatt...

Scanned ion beam therapy has special demands for treatment of intra-fractionally moving tumors such as lesions in lung or liver. Interplay effects between beam and organ motion can in those settings lead to under-dosage of the target volume. Dedicated treatment techniques such as gating or abdominal compression are required. In addition 4D treatment planning should be used to determine strategi...

The expression and activity of different channel types mark and regulate specific stages of cancer establishment and progression. Blocking channel activity impairs the growth of some tumors, both in vitro and in vivo, which opens a new field for pharmaceutical research. However, ion channel blockers may produce serious side effects, such as cardiac arrhythmias. For instance, Kv11.1 (hERG1) chan...