A Fast and Accurate Computational Method for Radiation Treatment Planning

A computational method for calculating the dose, Linear Energy Transfer and Relative Biological Effectiveness of proton treatment planning and optimization.
Problem:
In radiation therapy, the dose absorbed by cells determines their probability of survival. However, the biological effectiveness of the dose can vary. Multiple factors influence this variability, including the increase in linear energy transfer (LET) that occurs towards the end of a proton's range. As a result, there is increased interest in incorporating LET into treatment plan optimization to improve predictions of tissue response to radiation. Current methods for calculating LET are not well-suited for integration into treatment planning systems (TPS), highlighting the need for a new approach that is both accurate and computationally efficient. Also, LET cannot be measured, so current methods of calculating LET do not allow the verification of the calculation for patient specific quality assurance purposes.
Solution:
This invention provides a fast and accurate computational method for calculating precise three-dimensional dose and LET distributions. Instead of relying solely on conventional dose calculations, this technology models how individual particles (protons) interact with tissues and cells at an individual level. This method is based on parameters that can be measured and verified during patient specific quality assurance.
Technology:
This computational method divides the patient or object of interest into micrometric regions called ‘sites’ where individual protons deposit energy. Combining imaging data with particle beam data in each site, proton behavior is characterized by using statistical distributions of energy deposition, path length, and collision events. These distributions are used to construct analytical models of dose, LET and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in proton beams. The system generates accurate three-dimensional dose and LET distributions, enabling LET-guided treatment optimization. Unlike existing high-accuracy approaches, this invention achieves comparable accuracy with improved computational speed suitable for treatment planning systems.
Advantages:

Achieves accuracy comparable to existing methods for predicting radiation dose delivered to tissues
Provides computational speeds suitable for integration into treatment planning systems, enabling real-time or near real-time planning and optimization
Incorporates biological variability alongside conventional dose calculations, improving prediction of treatment response

Stage of Development:

Proof of Concept

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caption Predicted dose of radiation delivered by proton therapy using pencil beam convolution/superposition (PCS) to calculate dose (left) or the Micro-Calculation method developed by the inventors (right). Predicted radiation is comparable between the two methods.
Intellectual Property: