Friday 21 March 2025
A crucial step forward in the development of more precise cancer treatments has been taken by scientists who have created a new device capable of accurately measuring the energy deposited by secondary particles generated during hadrontherapy.
Hadrontherapy, a type of radiation therapy that uses high-energy particles to destroy cancer cells, is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to deliver targeted doses of radiation to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. However, one major challenge remains: accurately characterizing the secondary particles produced by the interaction of the primary beam with human tissue.
These particles, which include protons and light ions, can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of treatment plans, but their behavior is difficult to predict due to the complex interactions involved. To address this issue, scientists have developed a new ΔE-E telescope that combines a thin plastic scintillator and a CeBr3 crystal scintillator.
The device uses the energy deposited by these particles in each scintillator to determine their charge state, allowing for accurate identification of the secondary particles generated during hadrontherapy. The ΔE-E telescope’s calibration has been tested using proton, 8Li and 12C ion beams, and its performance has been evaluated under clinically relevant conditions.
The results show that the device is capable of accurately measuring energy deposition up to 2350 MeV, which corresponds to the energy deposited by 200 MeV/u 12C ions after traversing 2 mm of PMMA. The energy resolution of the plastic scintillator was found to be on the order of 10 MeV, while the CeBr3 crystal scintillator’s energy resolution was determined to be on the order of 5 MeV.
The timing performance of the telescope has also been evaluated, with a time resolution of 282 ± 1 ps achieved for 180 MeV/u 12C ions and 171 ± 1 ps for 25 MeV protons. These results demonstrate the device’s ability to provide precise measurements in clinical conditions, making it an invaluable tool for hadrontherapy research.
The development of this ΔE-E telescope is a significant step forward in the quest for more accurate treatment plans. By allowing researchers to better understand the behavior of secondary particles generated during hadrontherapy, the device will enable more effective and targeted treatments for cancer patients.
Cite this article: “Accurate Measurement of Energy Deposition in Hadrontherapy”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Hadrontherapy, Radiation Therapy, Cancer Treatment, Secondary Particles, Energy Deposition, Δe-E Telescope, Scintillators, Particle Beams, Ion Therapy, Precision Medicine
