Applying physical science techniques and CERN technology to an unsolved problem in radiation treatment for cancer: the multidisciplinary 'VoxTox' research programme

Neil G Burnet; Jessica E Scaife; Marina Romanchikova; Simon J Thomas; Amy M Bates; Emma Wong; David J Noble; Leila Ea Shelley; Simon J Bond; Julia R Forman; Andrew Cf Hoole; Gillian C Barnett; Frederic M Brochu; Michael Pd Simmons; Raj Jena; Karl Harrison; Ping Lin Yeap; Amelia Drew; Emma Silvester; Patrick Elwood; Hannah Pullen; Andrew Sultana; Shannon Yk Seah; Megan Z Wilson; Simon G Russell; Richard J Benson; Yvonne L Rimmer; Sarah J Jefferies; Nicolette Taku; Mark Gurnell; Andrew S Powlson; Carola-Bibiane Schönlieb; Xiaohao Cai; Michael Pf Sutcliffe; Michael A Parker

doi:10.23726/cij.2017.457

Applying physical science techniques and CERN technology to an unsolved problem in radiation treatment for cancer: the multidisciplinary 'VoxTox' research programme

CERN Ideasq J Exp Innov. 2017 Jun;1(1):3-12. doi: 10.23726/cij.2017.457.

Authors

Neil G Burnet^{1

2}, Jessica E Scaife^{1

2}, Marina Romanchikova^{1

3}, Simon J Thomas^{1

3}, Amy M Bates^{1

4}, Emma Wong^{1

4}, David J Noble^{1

4}, Leila Ea Shelley^{1

5}, Simon J Bond^{1

6}, Julia R Forman^{1

6}, Andrew Cf Hoole^{1

3}, Gillian C Barnett^{1

4}, Frederic M Brochu^{1

7}, Michael Pd Simmons^{1

7}, Raj Jena^{1

2}, Karl Harrison^{1

7}, Ping Lin Yeap^{1

7}, Amelia Drew^{1

7}, Emma Silvester^{1

7}, Patrick Elwood^{1

7}, Hannah Pullen^{1

7}, Andrew Sultana^{1

7}, Shannon Yk Seah^{1

7}, Megan Z Wilson^{1

7}, Simon G Russell^{1

4}, Richard J Benson^{1

4}, Yvonne L Rimmer^{1

4}, Sarah J Jefferies^{1

4}, Nicolette Taku^{1

2}, Mark Gurnell^{1

8}, Andrew S Powlson^{1

8}, Carola-Bibiane Schönlieb^{1

9}, Xiaohao Cai^{1

10}, Michael Pf Sutcliffe^{1

7}, Michael A Parker^{1

7}

Affiliations

¹ Cancer Research UK VoxTox Research Group, University of Cambridge Department of Oncology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
² University of Cambridge Department of Oncology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
³ Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
⁴ Oncology Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
⁵ Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK.
⁶ Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, Box 401, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
⁷ Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK.
⁸ Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge and National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Campus, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0QQ, UK.
⁹ Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge, CB3 0WA, UK.
¹⁰ Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), University College London, Surrey, RH5 6NT, UK.

Abstract

The VoxTox research programme has applied expertise from the physical sciences to the problem of radiotherapy toxicity, bringing together expertise from engineering, mathematics, high energy physics (including the Large Hadron Collider), medical physics and radiation oncology. In our initial cohort of 109 men treated with curative radiotherapy for prostate cancer, daily image guidance computed tomography (CT) scans have been used to calculate delivered dose to the rectum, as distinct from planned dose, using an automated approach. Clinical toxicity data have been collected, allowing us to address the hypothesis that delivered dose provides a better predictor of toxicity than planned dose.

Keywords: Multidisciplinary; physical sciences; radiation toxicity.

Abstract

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