New proton imaging technology ‘could aid future treatment of cancer’

UK engineers are developing new advances in proton imaging technology that could help to advance the treatment and diagnosis of cancer.

A team from Lancaster University is working with the University of Manchester, the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and CERN to create a prototype X-band linac structure that can be retrofitted on proton beam therapy equipment.

This will help to boost the energy of protons from the 250 mega-electron volts (MeV) available from conventional medical cyclotrons to 350 MeV, making the technology sufficient for imaging all patients, including adults.

Proton imaging based on this prototype technology will greatly improve the accuracy of pre-treatment imaging of patients compared to conventional X-ray technology. Radiotherapy with protons can also help reduce side effects due to its superior accuracy.

Lead researcher Dr Graeme Burt, senior lecturer at Lancaster University's engineering department, said: "Proton imaging will increase the accuracy of proton treatments to under one millimetre, which really counts when treating tumours near sensitive organs."

Two proton beam therapy facilities are currently being built by the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, with services expected to start in 2018.