Date/Time Date(s) - 09/04/202510:30 am - 11:30 am
Location Physics and Astronomy Department
Dr. Jan Seuntjens
Head, Department of Medical Physics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Professor, Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medical Biophysics Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Research Institute Orey and Mary Fidani Family Chair in Radiation Physics, University of Toronto Chair, Science Council of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine
University of Toronto & University Health Network Dr. Seuntjens’ profile link:
Title: Democratization of proton therapy for cancer treatment
Abstract:
Proton therapy (PT) is a more focused and superior tissue-sparing form of radiation therapy. Proton delivery systems, however, are large and costly to install and maintain making it challenging for publicly funded health care systems, including those in Canada, to justify installation. Patients, often pediatric, are sent to the US for treatment at premium cost. Selection of patients suitable for PT is based on risk models, rather than evidence gathered through clinical trials. The latter require large patient populations, but the number of PT installations to achieve this is limited, given PT systems cost, therefore clinical evidence is slow to build. This presentation will summarize proton and particle therapy state of the art technologies and explores current efforts towards creating low-cost proton therapy systems. Educational goals: (1) review physics of proton therapy; (2) review state-of-the-art clinical proton therapy systems; (3) review ongoing efforts, both in the field and in our lab, to reduce cost of accelerator and beam delivery systems.