Scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic and the Oncology Research Institute of the Tomsk Medical Center have presented the first application in Russia for individual planning of gamma-neutron therapy for malignant tumors. It has already been officially registered as a product of intellectual labor, but it does not yet have a name.
Neutron therapy is carried out on accelerators of charged particles, neutron generators or nuclear reactors. With their help, a neutron beam is obtained, which is directed to the tumor localization site. The development of oncologists and specialists in nuclear technology is considered the most promising method of fighting malignant tumors.
According to the press service of TPU, the application allows medical physicists to more accurately calculate the values of dose load when planning gamma-neutron therapy on a U-120 cyclotron, optimize the distribution of radiation dose in tissues and organs of each patient. Radiologists with its help can evaluate possible risks and side effects for him.
For this, a series of dosimetric plan parameters are entered into the application: the number of sessions, the single dose per fraction, the number of irradiation fields, the characteristics of the neutron dose field, the angles of incidence of the beams, the coordinates of the beam entrance points.
With the help of the application, it is possible not only to calculate the dose with which the tumor will be irradiated, but also the load received by the patient's skin surface and critical organs - healthy tissues and cells. Thus, computer simulation of dose fields provides an opportunity not only to optimize the treatment process, but also to minimize the risks of complications and a deterioration in quality of life for the patient.
Engineer of the Technological Reference Center of ionizing radiation in radiobiology, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine of TPU Ekaterina Selikhova
In the future, the application interface will be supplemented, in particular, there will be the possibility of reconstructing the volumetric appearance of patient's anatomical structures in 3D format.
In its existing form, a development supported by the Ministry of Education's "Priority 2030" program has already been presented to the general audience at the Russian Scientific and Practical Conference "Promising Directions in Radiotherapy of Malignant Neoplasms".