Optical and dosimetric technologies for radiation therapy

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Lifetime cancer incidence rates in Canada are estimated at 40%. As approximately one half of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy (RT), improvements in treatment efficacy will positively impact a large number of patients. This proposal outlines two main areas of RT research that address persistent bottlenecks in basic knowledge in biological and technical aspects of RT: (i) the use of optical techniques for developing a deep understanding and monitoring of biological response to radiation and (ii) development and application of radiation measurement tools for use in RT.***RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY FOR UNDERSTANDING AND MONITORING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE IN RT***INTRODUCTION: My group has developed optical technologies capable of observing radiation damage in cells over clinically relevant timeframes. A current limitation of the experimental system is the long data collection times and user-specific expertise required to acquire a relatively small amount of data.***OBJECTIVES: (i) To develop an automated data collection system utilizing our current system and small-sample fluid flow channels (microfluidics). (ii) To develop advanced data analysis techniques for information extraction from the system developed in aim (i). ***IMPACT: RT prescriptions are currently based on prior population outcomes, with minimal consideration given to individual patient radiation response. There exist no accepted methods for understanding individual patient biological response or in monitoring of the efficacy of treatment during the course of RT. An automated data collection system with advanced data analysis capabilities will pave the path towards understanding individual patient biological response and in the monitoring of treatment efficacy during the course of RT, enabling oncologists to tune radiation dose based on treatment progression.***3D RADIATION DOSIMETER DEVELOPMENT***INTRODUCTION: Polymer gel dosimeters (PGD) are a promising tool for 3D dose measurement and stand to revolutionize further innovations in RT delivery. However, PGD have not been fully developed for clinical use.  ***OBJECTIVES: (i) To establish an accurate and robust PGD system for further research in 3D radiation dosimetry. (ii) To apply the system to full patient RT process verification and to the verification of novel dose calculation algorithms. ***IMPACT: The current complexity in RT delivery has outpaced the development of 3D dose measurement instrumentation, thus limiting further innovation in RT delivery. PGD is an attractive 3D dosimetry technique due to the wealth of dosimetric information afforded by the technique.  Establishing a robust PGD system is critical for enabling clinical acceptance of this tool. This work stands to significantly impact the understanding of currently delivered 3D radiation doses, thus enabling the next generation of RT treatment development.**