L0_2016_Athens_Physics_Programme

• Photon beam irradiation using linacs is widely available and a sophisticated, high-

precision treatment technique

• Proton beam therapy (ions) are superior from a physics point of view and very

promising reducing dose to surrounding tissues and possibly allowing for dose

escalation

• Some applications are standard (ocular melanoma, base of skull, children...)

• For most tumor sites, insufficient data are available: treatment within studies and

model-based approach

Take home messages

• Proton beam therapy is more expensive than photon therapy, but cheaper than

numerous systemic therapies given palliatively

• MR-LINAC is a novel treatment technique pushed by physics and industry, the

clinical gain needs to be defined in future studies and applications.

• Randomised control trials are most likely not the way forward defining the niche for

these technologies