# Novel Optimization Methods and Treatment Planning System for Clinically-Deliverable Truly-Hybrid Proton-Photon Radiotherapy

> **NIH NIH R37** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $352,657

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Radiotherapy (RT) aims to deliver tumoricidal dose to clinical target volume (CTV) while sparing organs at
risk (OAR), for which proton and photon beams are naturally complementary to each other: protons are
generally better for OAR sparing, while photons are more robust to delivery uncertainties for CTV coverage.
The hybrid proton-photon RT has a long history. However, as it generates proton and photon plans separately
without fully utilizing joint proton-photon optimization during the planning stage, current hybrid RT is pseudo-
hybrid and very limited in plan quality, treatment sites, and broad applicability. The key to leapfrog from
pseudo-hybrid to truly-hybrid RT is new joint proton-photon optimization method that synergizes
complementary proton and photon beams. The hypothesis is that truly-hybrid RT via appropriate joint proton-
photon optimization will be more favorable than proton or photon-only RT, in terms of CTV coverage
robustness and OAR sparing optimality.
 Broad applicability of truly-hybrid RT to patients: (A) Clinical applicability: unlike pseudo-hybrid RT that is
limited in plan quality and treatment sites, truly-hybrid RT may become a new paradigm for general cancer RT,
owing to its superior plan quality and thus potentially clinical outcomes to proton-only or photon-only RT.
(B) Clinical workflow: our truly-hybrid plans can be individually and safely delivered on existing proton and
photon machines, and this effort envisions patients being treated in an integrated cancer center like ours with
both proton and photon equipment, under the direction of a single physician, using shared immobilization
devices, simulation procedure and structure set, and integrated treatment planning and delivery system.
(C) Patient coverage: truly-hybrid RT can be made broadly available to many cancer patients through existing
infrastructures in US, since (1) most hospitals with proton centers also have photon centers; (2) 76% of cancer
patients live in the states with operational proton centers, while 85% are within 100-mile (2-hour-driving)
distances to these proton centers; (3) cancer patients are more willing to travel for advanced treatment options.
 Proposed effort: Inspired by unprecedented plan quality and broad applicability of truly-hybrid RT via our
joint proton-photon optimization method, the next step is to test the hypothesis prospectively via clinical trials.
However, a missing prerequisite to advance truly-hybrid RT from research to clinic is a treatment planning
system (TPS) that can generate clinically-deliverable hybrid plans. To meet this urgent need, this effort will
develop novel optimization methods and TPS for clinically-deliverable truly-hybrid RT, which is a radical step
towards prospective clinical trials for testing the hypothesis.
 Aim 1: Optimization methods and TPS for clinically-deliverable truly-hybrid RT.
 Aim 2: Optimization methods for accurate and efficient MCO truly-hybrid planning.
 Aim 3: De...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10442285
- **Project number:** 7R37CA250921-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Hao Gao
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $352,657
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10442285

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10442285, Novel Optimization Methods and Treatment Planning System for Clinically-Deliverable Truly-Hybrid Proton-Photon Radiotherapy (7R37CA250921-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10442285. Licensed CC0.

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