Very high-energy electrons as radiotherapy opportunity

The use of very high-energy electrons (VHEEs) with energies in the range of 100-250 MeV has recently garnered significant attention for use in radiotherapy. VHEE beams manifest distinctive dosimetric characteristics, including increased depth penetration, narrow penumbra, and insensitivity to inhomo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European physical journal plus 2024-08, Vol.139 (8), p.728, Article 728
Main Authors: Fischer, Jade, Whitmore, Lucy, Desrosiers, Colleen, Sheehy, Suzie, Bazalova-Carter, Magdalena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied and Technical Physics
Atomic
Atoms & subatomic particles
Complex Systems
Condensed Matter Physics
Drug overdose
Electron beams
Electrons
Energy
Focus Point on Advances in Radiation Therapy
High energy electrons
Mathematical and Computational Physics
Molecular
Optical and Plasma Physics
Patients
Pencil beams
Photon beams
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Radiation dosage
Radiation therapy
Review
Theoretical
Tumors
X-rays
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Summary:The use of very high-energy electrons (VHEEs) with energies in the range of 100-250 MeV has recently garnered significant attention for use in radiotherapy. VHEE beams manifest distinctive dosimetric characteristics, including increased depth penetration, narrow penumbra, and insensitivity to inhomogeneities compared to clinically used 6-20 MeV electrons. These attributes increase the applicability of electron therapy to include deep-seated tumors with dose distributions similar to state-of-the-art photon beam therapy. The advantages of VHEEs are amplified by their potential use in ultrahigh dose rate (UHDR) regimes which may lead to increased tissue sparing through the FLASH effect and the potential application of pencil beam scanning technology for ultrafast conformal dose delivery. As the use of VHEEs nears clinical implementation, the aim of this review is to encapsulate the current knowledge of VHEEs, including the description of accelerator technology, dose calculations and measurements, and treatment planning and determine areas of interest for future work. Through a comprehensive analysis of these topics, this review covers exciting potential of VHEEs in modern radiotherapy practice. Additionally, a discussion of special methods of beam delivery, focused VHEEs and spatially fractionated radiotherapy, is also included to further evaluate tissue sparing potential beyond the use of UHDR radiotherapy.
ISSN:2190-5444
2190-5444
DOI:10.1140/epjp/s13360-024-05455-x