Non-clinical Research

The treatment of moving target volumes with scanned particle beams has long been an important area of research in ion beam therapy. For intrafractional adaptive radiotherapy, i.e. in case of changes during an irradiation fraction, the focus is in the field of medical image processing, four-dimensional dosimetry and special methods in radiation planning.

Interfractional adaptive radiotherapy also deals with position changes of the target volumes, where the time interval of the movement is larger, i.e. changes between the individual radiation days (fractions). Treatment adaptations are based on magnetic resonance images, which provide information on morphological changes and changes in tumour characteristics. So-called deep learning approaches are also used for evaluating and further processing the individual images.

Research in the field of magnetic resonance-based beam application or development of combining magnetic resonance imaging and ion beam therapy is an emerging topic in radiotherapy. In contrast to photon therapy, the particle beam is directly influenced by the magnetic field in ion beam therapy. Studies on the effects on dose distribution, on dosimetric measurements and finally on patient treatment are the starting point for magnetic resonance-based particle therapy.

MedAustron offers the possibility to investigate proton computed tomography with energies of up to 800 MeV. Such high proton energies are not used in therapy. In order to reduce distance uncertainties in the irradiation planning process, it is of essential interest to improve determining the energy output of the particles.

Currently, treatment planning in ion beam therapy is based on the product of absorbed dose in water with a biological weighting factor. However, this approach is not sufficient for a comprehensive quantitative description of biological impacts. Therefore, microdosimetric spectra are recorded by means of experimental measurements, which represent the cornerstone for further correlation with biological data.

Preclinical research focuses on the investigation of molecular biological and immunological processes in the tumour and its microenvironment, which contributes significantly to the therapy resistance of the tumour. The effects of ion beam therapy on the tumour microenvironment are currently unknown and are being explored in adequate spheroid and xenograft models. In addition, it is planned to visualize and investigate radiation-induced processes in the tumour using non-invasive preclinical imaging techniques.