The objective of this research is to determine if the radiobiological effectiveness (RBE) values used presentlyin proton radiotherapy are accurate and well understood throughout the irradiated volume to provide themost efficacious treatment. If these values are underestimated this means that patients treated with protonscould be receiving higher doses than required in the tumor area as well as in the healthy tissue surroundingthe target area. These values could be affected by the production of secondary particles as well as recoilnuclei due to proton interactions. In order to determine this, Monte Carlo simulations using unique nucleardata libraries and intermediate energy nuclear modeling codes will be performed and several circumstancesof clinical relevance tested. In addition to determining the proton RBE and spatial variation, we willinvestigate the RBE of ions such as 12C that present several advantages for radiotherapy. In recent years,the interest in using such kinds of ions for therapy have increased.
| Perez-Andujar, Angelica; Deluca Jr, Paul M; Thornton, Allan F et al. (2012) Microdosimetric measurements for neutron-absorbed dose determination during proton therapy. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 151:365-73 |
| Pérez-Andújar, Angélica; Newhauser, Wayne D; Deluca, Paul M (2009) Neutron production from beam-modifying devices in a modern double scattering proton therapy beam delivery system. Phys Med Biol 54:993-1008 |
