Thermobrachytherapy for Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Abstract
The principal objective of this research is the development of the combination of hyperthermia (HT) and high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy as a therapy for locally advanced, recurrent prostate cancer after failure using front line external beam definitive radiation therapy (EBRT). We had previously developed a system for low dose rate systems (LDR), however technological advances in HDR systems make the application of LDR essentially obsolete. There are several fundamentally different aspects to HDR practice and dosimetry, which render the LDR technology developed here obsolete as well. As a result the first three tasks in the statement of work are the development of a new template system, new software to control power deposition in the tumor and phantom testing before beginning patient treatment. As is demonstrated in the body of this report all three tasks have been completed on schedule. The new HDR template design differs radically from the older LDR system is easier to set up and more comfortable for the patient. The software was completely re-written to accommodate the fundamentally different HDR dosimetric approach. The combination of the hardware and software was then extensively tested on phantoms. Once satisfied that the system was safe for human application one patient was treated in accordance with the approved protocol. Finally work was initiated in the translational aspects of applying controlled gene therapy which will consist of the stress (heat and radiation) activation of the genes coding for cytotoxic molecules whose expression is activated by heat and ionizing radiation
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA410789
Entities
People
- Alvaro Martinez
- Peter M. Corry