Suche
Mein Konto
Revolutionary proton therapy: Dresden sets new standards in the fight against cancer!
Dresden is testing innovative MRI-guided proton therapy for the precision treatment of cancer patients in the OncoRay Center.
Revolutionary proton therapy: Dresden sets new standards in the fight against cancer!
Big things are happening in the world of radiation therapy in Dresden. Scientists and physicians at OncoRay – the national center for radiation research in oncology – have developed a novel procedure that could revolutionize the treatment of cancer patients. “We are breaking new ground by combining a whole-body MRI with a proton therapy system,” explains Professor Aswin Hoffmann, who heads the “Experimental MR-integrated Proton Therapy” research group. The result? A prototype that is unique in the world was inaugurated in January 2024 in the presence of Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer.
Radiation therapy has long been a proven method of combating malignant tumors, with the main goal being to damage the DNA in these cells and thus destroy them. Proton radiation therapy in particular has proven to be gentle on patients. But until now, these protons often penetrated healthy tissue, which was due to inaccurate measurements. The new technology now promises more precise planning of radiation, which significantly increases the chances of recovery.
Innovative technology for more precise treatments
The new device on the OncoRay is a real ray of hope for all those familiar with the challenges of radiation therapy. Previous CTs were able to limit radiation safe areas by at least 35 percent, but these were only suitable for immobile tumors, such as in the head or pelvic area. The new system from OncoRay, on the other hand, enables simultaneous imaging and radiation therapy during treatment for the first time in practice. This sounds like science fiction, but it is reality.
The technology used here is a decisive advance. Christian Richter from the Department of Medical Radiation Physics describes the advantages of PCCT technology: “We can take better and more precise CT images and probably even reduce the imaging dose.” The prototype will be necessary to test the methods on mobile tumors in the chest, abdomen and pelvis, with real-time imaging using MRI opening up a whole new dimension.
On the right path to individualizing therapy
The challenge of combining the proton irradiation system with MRI was masterfully mastered. A central goal of this development is to improve the targeting accuracy of proton therapy. “We want to individualize the treatment so that it is optimally tailored to the needs of each individual patient,” emphasizes Professor Sebastian M. Schmidt. This means that tumors are more precisely differentiated from healthy tissue, which means treatment strategies can be significantly optimized.
An international community of researchers and industry partners, including ASG Superconductors and MagnetTx Oncology Solutions, contributed to the development. This comprehensive commitment demonstrates the importance of progress in this area. In this context, Saxon Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow emphasized the importance of the new technology and explained that OncoRay is striving to actively shape the digital future of cancer therapy.
The prototype will continue to be scientifically tested for a few more years, but it is certain that in about ten years all CTs used in quantitative imaging will be based on these innovative technologies. Hopes are high, not only for the development of radiotherapy, but especially for the patients who could benefit from these advanced treatment approaches in the future.
When it comes to quality of life and chances of recovery, we should never give up, as this groundbreaking development in Dresden shows all too clearly. The future looks bright, and this innovative technology could soon be the key to fighting cancer more efficiently.