About the person

The challenge

It is possible to fight cancer with ionising radiation. The aim of radiotherapy is thus simply defined: exposure to radiation in the form of X-rays, but also protons and carbon ions, induces DNA damage in the tumour cells, the resulting damage to the cells' genetic material makes them unable to divide, stops tumour growth or causes the cancer cells to die. The challenge is to ensure that the patient survives the treatment as well as possible. This is because radiotherapy is always accompanied by the destruction of healthy tissue.

From the lecture

With ion beam therapy, charged particles are used instead of electromagnetic radiation. The main advantage over conventional methods using electromagnetic radiation is that the maximum dose is at the end of the range, i.e. the energy output reaches a maximum at the end of the range (Bragg peak) and the surrounding tissue is therefore spared as much as possible. The range can be precisely determined by the initial speed of the particles. Clinically, this achieves a much better dose distribution and reduces the side effects of the radiation.

Perspectives

Ion beam therapy uses charged particles instead of electromagnetic radiation. The main advantage over conventional methods using electromagnetic radiation is that the maximum dose is at the end of the range, i.e. the energy output reaches a maximum at the end of the range (Bragg peak) and the surrounding tissue is therefore spared as much as possible. The range can be precisely determined by the initial speed of the particles. Clinically, this achieves a much better dose distribution and reduces the side effects of the radiation.