Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatment Workshop
By Effective Communication
Leading cancer research scientists from across the world will be in Cardiff this week (Monday 19th- 21st October), to discuss developments in a cutting-edge cancer treatment - funded by a Welsh-based charity.
The Second European Workshop on Monte Carlo Treatment Planning will be held at the National Museum of Wales, in partnership with Cancer Research Wales, Cardiff University and Velindre NHS Trust, and is being led by Cancer Research Wales funded scientist, Dr Emiliano Spezi.
Dr Spezi, who is originally from Italy, was funded by Cancer Research Wales to study for a PhD and has since returned to Wales, bringing back his expertise to the Department of Medical Physics at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, a Centre of Excellence for the non-surgical treatment of cancer.
This week’s prestigious workshop will see cancer experts from the UK, Europe and from all around the world including the U.S.A, Canada, Brazil, Japan and South Africa, coming to Cardiff to discuss clinical developments and scientific breakthroughs in Monte Carlo treatment for cancer patients. Many of these breakthroughs are being developed in Cardiff by Dr Spezi and his close team, through funding by Cancer Research Wales, an indigenous Welsh cancer charity.
The Monte Carlo technique is an area of physics which became very important during the Manhattan Project in the first World War, which led to the development of the atomic bomb. The technique relies on repeated random sampling, which is where its name comes from; linking the technique to the random numbers in the casinos of Monte Carlo itself.
Since then, the Monte Carlo technique has been developed by scientists for use in radiotherapy treatments for cancer patients.
The technique is a natural way to tackle a complex mathematical problem, in that it tries to mimic exactly what happens in real life.
The idea is to predict the dose by calculating how X-ray photons and electrons pass through a 3D “phantom” of the patient, created from CT scan data. In the simulation, particles are started based upon probability theory, and paths through the body are predicted based upon the probability of interacting with the patient’s tissue, represented by the phantom. By performing many of these random trials, the radiation dose can be accurately estimated.
Dr Spezi is currently working on a treatment technique known as Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) where Monte Carlo simulations play a key role in estimating the resulting radiation dose given to patients undergoing repeated CT examinations. He and his close team at Velindre are leading the research in this new field.
IGRT helps target tumours very precisely. In some areas of the body, tumours can move – for example, the cervix changes position according to whether the bladder is full or not. This means there is a risk that part of the tumour may be outside the planned radiotherapy target during some treatment sessions, making the therapy less effective. With image adapted radiotherapy, doctors can check the position of the tumour before each treatment. So, they can make sure the tumour is completely inside the radiotherapy field every time, or even adapt treatment to account for anatomy changes.
The targeted nature of this kind of radiotherapy means patients can be given a stronger dose of radiation, but it also needs great technical expertise to avoid hitting any other healthy part of the body during treatment. This is where accurate dose calculation methods based on Monte Carlo technology become crucial.
This new treatment will have an important impact and benefit for cancer patients; minimising the risk of side effects, and increasing accuracy of treatment even further.
Cancer Research Wales’ Professor of Clinical Oncology, Professor Malcolm Mason said:
“Using Monte Carlo techniques may open the door to two major advances in radiotherapy treatment. Firstly, by increasing the accuracy of the treatment to within fractions of a millimetre, it should be possible to reduce the side effects of treatment.
“Secondly, by using these advanced radiotherapy techniques, it may be possible to treat parts of the body, such as lymph glands in certain areas, to far higher doses than was previously the case, and this in turn opens the door to curing more patients with radiotherapy.”
Dr Spezi said: “On behalf of the European Work Group for Monte Carlo Treatment Planning, we are delighted to be hosting such distinguished research scientists at a conference here in Cardiff. This conference is only the second of its kind, which is testament to the cutting-edge nature of the research being carried out here in Wales. It is only through the support of Cancer Research Wales that we are able to develop these techniques, and ultimately bring the benefits to cancer patients themselves.”
