Proceedings of the National Cancer Institute Workshop on Charged Particle Radiobiology

Publication date: Available online 21 December 2017
Source:International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics
Author(s): Radhe Mohan, Kathryn D. Held, Michael D. Story, David Grosshans, Jacek Capala
In April 2016, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) hosted a multidisciplinary workshop to discuss current knowledge of the radiobiological aspects of charged particles used in cancer therapy, to identify gaps in that knowledge that may hinder the effective clinical use of charged particles and to propose research that may help fill those gaps. The workshop was organized into ten topics ranging from biophysical models to clinical trials and included treatment optimization, relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of tumors and normal tissues, hypofractionation with particles, combination with immunotherapy, omics, hypoxia and particle-induced second malignancies. Given that the most commonly used charged particle in the clinic currently is protons, much of the discussion revolved around evaluating the state of knowledge and current practice of using an RBE of 1.1 for protons. Discussion also included the potential advantages of heavier ions, notably carbon ions, due to their increased biological effectiveness, particularly for tumors frequently considered to be radiation resistant, increased effectiveness in hypoxic cells and potential for differentially altering immune responses. The participants identified a large number of research areas in which information is needed to inform the most effective use of charged particles in the future in clinical radiotherapy. This unique form of radiation therapy holds great promise for improving cancer treatment.



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