The aim of the course is to provide the fundamental notions of medical therapy techniques based on particle beams and on the use of simulation techniques typical of particle physics. The elements of radiobiology necessary for understanding the problems addressed will also be exposed.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Physicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Programme
General introduction to radiation therapy.○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Core Documentation
Podgoršak, E. B. (2016). Graduate Texts in Physics: Radiation Physics for MedicalPhysicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Type of delivery of the course
Lectures with a "hands-on" in the calculation room, on some procedures for simulating treatment plansType of evaluation
• There are no exemptions or checks. There will be only an oral exam at the end teacher profile teaching materials
○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Physicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Programme
General introduction to radiation therapy.○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Core Documentation
Podgoršak, E. B. (2016). Graduate Texts in Physics: Radiation Physics for MedicalPhysicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Type of delivery of the course
Lectures with a "hands-on" in the calculation room, on some procedures for simulating treatment plansType of evaluation
• There are no exemptions or checks. There will be only an oral exam at the end teacher profile teaching materials
○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Physicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Mutuazione: 20410885 Applicazioni della fisica delle particelle alla terapia medica in Fisica LM-17 ATTILI Andrea
Programme
General introduction to radiation therapy.○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Core Documentation
Podgoršak, E. B. (2016). Graduate Texts in Physics: Radiation Physics for MedicalPhysicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Type of delivery of the course
Lectures with a "hands-on" in the calculation room, on some procedures for simulating treatment plansType of evaluation
• There are no exemptions or checks. There will be only an oral exam at the end teacher profile teaching materials
○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Physicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Programme
General introduction to radiation therapy.○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Core Documentation
Podgoršak, E. B. (2016). Graduate Texts in Physics: Radiation Physics for MedicalPhysicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Type of delivery of the course
Lectures with a "hands-on" in the calculation room, on some procedures for simulating treatment plansType of evaluation
• There are no exemptions or checks. There will be only an oral exam at the end teacher profile teaching materials
○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Physicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Mutuazione: 20410885 Applicazioni della fisica delle particelle alla terapia medica in Fisica LM-17 ATTILI Andrea
Programme
General introduction to radiation therapy.○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Core Documentation
Podgoršak, E. B. (2016). Graduate Texts in Physics: Radiation Physics for MedicalPhysicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Type of delivery of the course
Lectures with a "hands-on" in the calculation room, on some procedures for simulating treatment plansType of evaluation
• There are no exemptions or checks. There will be only an oral exam at the end teacher profile teaching materials
○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Physicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Mutuazione: 20410885 Applicazioni della fisica delle particelle alla terapia medica in Fisica LM-17 ATTILI Andrea
Programme
General introduction to radiation therapy.○ Physical and biological rationale of ionizing radiation in cancer treatments.
○ Dose-effect curve, TCP, NTCP and therapeutic index.
○ Dose-volume histograms. Physical and biological selectivity.
● Introductory overview of radiotherapy techniques (from x-rays to ion beams):
○ Photon Radiation Therapy: conventional, conformational, IMRT. Brachytherapy.
Radiotherapy with ion beams: hadrontherapy.
■ Notes on Facilities (active and under development) and diffusion in the world.
● Classification of ionizing radiation: the problem of choosing the type of radiation
for therapeutic applications
○ Definition of relevant physical and radiobiological quantities.
○ Physical Selectivity:
■ Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation
■ Low-LET and high-LET radiation. Bragg's peak.
Examples for indirectly ionizing: photons, neutrons; directly
ionizing: electrons, positrons, ions.
○ Biological Selectivity:
■ Poorly ionizing and highly ionizing radiation. The Concept
trace and micro/nano-dosimetric aspects.
■ Relationship between LET and "biological efficacy"
● Physical aspects of hadrontherapy: interaction of ion beams with matter.
○ Stopping Power
Stopping power classification.
■ Derivation of stopping power equations (Bohr, Bethe approaches
and Bloch, corrective factors)
■ The average excitation potential. Mixtures.
○ Energy loss and range straggling.
■ CSDA Approximations
■ Landau-Vavilov theory
○ Lateral beam widening
■ Multiple scattering. Coulomb interactions with target nuclei. Equations
by Bothe and Moliere.
Nuclear interactions and fragmentation
■ Modelling approaches: INC and QMD models.
■ Target Fragmentation and Projectile Fragmentation
■ The "tail of fragments" and mixtures of ions.
● In-depth analysis: in-beam PET
● Radiobiological aspects.
○ Basics of Radiobiology
■ Spatial and temporal scales of radiobiological processes.
■ Oncogenesis.
Cell survival: definition, processes of damage (direct and
mechanisms. Hypoxia. Mutations and transformations.
■ Clonogenic experiments and L-Q model.
■ Temporal effects and fractionation.
● In-depth: the FLASH effect
○ Radiobiological effects of ion beams
■ Relative biological efficacy (RBE): definition, systematic, complexity
and physical aspects.
■ the Oxygen Enhancement Ratio (OER).
Physical and Radiobiological Modeling for Ion Beams in Clinical Applications
○ Recall to the concepts of tracing and clustering of damage.
○ The "Local Effect Model" (LEM)
○ Kinetic equations for cell damage and repair. Radio-chemical aspects.
○ Microdosimetry models
■ Mathematical basis of microdosimetry. Stochastic aspects.
■ The Microdosimetric-Kinetic model (MKM)
● In-Depth: Advanced MKM Approaches: Monte Carlo, Effects
temporal (FLASH effect), OER, Mutations.
TCP/NTCP Models
■ In-depth analysis: models to assess the risk of secondary cancers.
● "Dose Delivery" and "Dose Shaping"
○ Classification of ion beam acceleration systems and types of facilities
■ Synchrotrons, cyclotrons and Laser-driven.
○ General aspects of dose measurements, in-beam monitoring, and radiation protection.
○ General aspects of dose delivery modulation in 3D.
■ The Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP).
The gantry system.
■ Passive dose-shaping systems (3D Range Modulator)
■ Active scanning systems (raster scan and energy modulation)
● Simulation and optimization of treatment plans: the "Treatment Planning System"
○ General description of TPS and planning procedures
■ Image acquisition (CT), segmentation, prescription and definition
dose-volume constraints, inverse planning, DVH calculation.
○ Monte Carlo simulations for dose calculation
General aspects of particle tracking.
■ Use of CT for patient modeling and identification of the
elemental composition of tissues.
■ Variance reduction systems
○ Pencil-beam algorithms and WEPL approximation for fast dose calculation.
○ Inverse planning details
■ Pencil beam decomposition and degrees of freedom
■ Examples of optimization algorithms
○ Radiobiological optimization
Methods of integrating radiobiological models into TPS calculations with
RBE-weighted dose (RWD). Pre-mixing and post-mixing approaches.
■ Examples: RWD distribution calculations with LEM and MKM.
● Practical activity and Hand-on: exemplary exercises with the use of codes
Open-source for radiobiological calculations and treatment simulation.
○ Download and install the codes: Topas, Survival and R-Planit.
○ Monte Carlo simulation exercises (code: Topas/Geant4)
Evaluation of the Dose Distribution Released by an Ion Beam
in a virtual patient.
■ Evaluation of microdosimetric spectra in a cell nucleus for
interaction with ions.
○ Radiobiological simulation exercises (code: Survival)
■ Calculation of the probability of cell survival for a sample of
cells irradiated with ion beams with the MKM or LEM model.
Exercise in planning a treatment plan (code: R-Planit)
■ Calculation and optimization of a treatment starting from the CT of a
virtual patient and the clinical prescription given.
■ Calculation of the DVH of the optimized plan.
○ (Follow-up: Combining the results of the previous exercises for the
assessment of the distribution of RWD in the treated patient.
Core Documentation
Podgoršak, E. B. (2016). Graduate Texts in Physics: Radiation Physics for MedicalPhysicists.
● Hobbie, R. K., Roth, B. J. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology.
Germany: Springer New York.
● M. Joiner & A. van der Kogel (eds.) (2009). Basic Clinical Radiobiology. Edward Arnold.
● Paganetti, H. (ed.) (2012). Proton Therapy Physics. CRC Press.
● MA, C.-M. C., & Lomax, T. (eds.) (2013). Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy. CRC Press
Type of delivery of the course
Lectures with a "hands-on" in the calculation room, on some procedures for simulating treatment plansType of evaluation
• There are no exemptions or checks. There will be only an oral exam at the end