Real-Time Volumetric Imaging for Lung Cancer Radiotherapy

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Interfraction anatomic changes and intrafraction respiratory motion are the major limiting factors for escalating radiation dose and improving local control in lung cancer radiotherapy. The advent of on-board x-ray imaging device mounted on the medical linear accelerator (LINAC) has provided a tool to obtain valuable anatomic information of the patient in the treatment position. However, due to the slow rotating nature of the on-board imaging system (~1 min per rotation), obtaining volumetric information in real time is extremely challenging. Existing methods have relied on grouping many projections acquired over multiple breathing cycles for several minutes to reconstruct one static anatomy. Further, due to the fact that lung cancer patients tend to breathe irregularly, the reconstructed images are often heavily contaminated by breathing motion artifacts. The goal of this research project is to develop innovative real-time volumetric imaging methods that are able to reconstruct the dynamic patient anatomy in real time (~0.1 s) using a single x-ray projection during dose delivery. This bold goal is made practical by three integral components: effective use of an accurate patient-specific lung motion model, advanced compressed sensing techniques for image reconstruction, and a massively parallel and yet affordable computing platform based on graphics processing units (GPU). During the mentored K99 phase, the candidate will draw on his signal processing and statistical modeling expertise to improve and optimize the patient-specific lung motion model while gaining knowledge in lung patient anatomy and pathology, and to quantitatively evaluate the lung motion model and interpret the clinical significance of the results. During the independent R00 phase, a real-time volumetric imaging method which captures both interfraction anatomical changes and intrafraction breathing motion, will be developed, implemented, and evaluated through systematic phantom and patient studies. Successful completion of this project will overcome a critical barrier to the urgently needed real-time volumetric image guidance in lung cancer radiotherapy and afford a powerful way for us to safely escalate the radiation dose and improve local control of lung cancer. This project fits perfectly with the candidate’s long-term career goal of establishing a high-quality independent research program to develop state-of-the-art x-ray imaging techniques, which will provide real-time image guidance for cancer radiotherapy and ultimately improve the therapeutic ratio and enhance the quality of life for cancer patients. Career development and research training will be an integral component during the mentored phase of this project. This training will be further supplemented with formal coursework at Stanford University School of Medicine, as well as participation in research seminars and scientific meetings. The training and research contributions supported by this K99/R00 award will substantially enhance the candidate’s career and serve to establish him as a successful independent investigator in the near future.