Optical and dosimetric technologies for radiation therapy

加拿大的终生癌症发病率估计为40%。由于大约一半的癌症患者将接受放射治疗（RT），治疗效果的改善将对大量患者产生积极影响。该提案概述了RT研究的两个主要领域，以解决RT生物和技术方面基础知识的持续瓶颈：㈠利用光学技术深入了解和监测辐射生物反应，㈡开发和应用RT中使用的辐射测量工具。拉曼光谱的理解和监测生物反应在RT* 引言：我的小组已经开发出光学技术，能够观察辐射损伤的细胞在临床相关的时间范围。实验系统目前的一个局限性是数据收集时间长，需要用户特定的专业知识才能获得相对少量的数据。（i）利用我们现有的系统和小样本流体流动通道（微流体）开发自动数据收集系统。(ii)发展先进的数据分析技术，以便从目标（一）所开发的系统中提取信息。* 影响：RT处方目前基于先前的人群结果，对个体患者的辐射反应考虑最少。目前还没有公认的方法来了解个体患者的生物反应或监测RT过程中的治疗效果。具有先进数据分析能力的自动数据收集系统将为了解个体患者的生物反应和监测RT过程中的治疗效果铺平道路，使肿瘤学家能够根据治疗进展调整辐射剂量。3D辐射剂量计的开发 * 简介：聚合物凝胶剂量计（PGD）是一种很有前途的3D剂量测量工具，有望为RT输送带来革命性的进一步创新。然而，PGD尚未完全开发用于临床使用。 * 目标：（i）建立一个准确和可靠的PGD系统，用于进一步研究三维辐射剂量学。(ii)将该系统应用于完整患者RT过程验证和新型剂量计算算法的验证。* 影响：目前RT输送的复杂性已经超过了3D剂量测量仪器的发展，因此限制了RT输送的进一步创新。PGD是一种有吸引力的三维剂量测定技术，由于该技术提供了丰富的剂量测定信息。 建立一个强大的PGD系统是使临床接受这一工具的关键。这项工作将显著影响对目前提供的3D辐射剂量的理解，从而实现下一代RT治疗的开发。

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.**