Particle therapy
Particle therapy

Particle therapy extends the use of radiotherapy

High-energy positive ions are used for radiation

Unlike standard radiotherapy that uses photons, the protons or carbon ions used in particle therapy act in a completely different way. The major difference lies in the way particles penetrate the body tissue. The particles penetrate deeper as the speed with which they come through the tissue is reduced. Particle therapy therefore enables a depth-dose profile. It is possible to determine with high precision and in advance the penetration depth and the location of the frequency range based on the speed with which particles leave the accelerator. In this way, it is possible to place a high radiation dose directly in the tumor tissue, while optimally sparing surrounding tissues. Another benefit of particle therapy: the particle beam can be directed using an electromagnet. Thanks to a raster scan process, the shape of the tumor can be determined and the target volume of this shape can be adjusted accordingly.

Carbonic ions work much better

Particle therapy works with protons as well as carbonic ions. It has been proven that carbonic ions have an additional benefit: The use of these ions in particle therapy results in a high ionization density in the target volume. This improves the desired destruction of cancer cells, particularly in the DNA structures of the cancer cells. The body’s own repair enzymes have hardly any chance to repair this damage – particle therapy specifically eliminates cancer cells in the target region. The effect of carbonic ions is three times better than protons – tripling the chance for patients to defeat cancer.

Thanks to particle therapy, radiotherapy can be used more efficiently locally. Particle therapy with protons is particularly efficient in case of near-surface tumors in clinical studies, whereas carbonic ions are more indicated for prostate cancer, colon cancer and similar tumors inside the body. The more accurate the radiation processes are, the more important is it to prepare and set up patients as well as possible for the radiation. The Radiotherapy Patient System RPS supports modern particle therapy through optimal radiation angles thanks to six freedom degrees and the automatic detection and balance of respiratory movements, heart beats or colon movements. You can find out more information about how RPS can improve your radiotherapy center. Simply send an email to info@gkteso.de.