# Novel On-line PET Based Intra-Beam Range Verification and Delivery Optimization for Improved Particle Radiation Therapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $514,043

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
There are inherent physical uncertainties with particle therapy (i.e. beam range uncertainty) which have
become major factors leading to large margins, thereby unnecessarily exposing additional dose to normal
tissues, and forcing clinicians taking overly conservative treatment plans to restrict the dose to tumor or
avoiding advantageous beam angles to ensure sparing of critical organs at risk. It is critically important to
overcome this impediment in order to dramatically enhance particle therapy outcomes and achieve its full
clinical benefits. The goal of this research project is to develop an innovative PET image-based on-line
verification of proton therapy for brain cancer treatment instead of the current off-line method in order to
directly measure the potential deviation of actual proton beam range from that predicted by the treatment plan
before the start of treatment. In this project, we challenge the conventional belief and propose a unique
approach of using part of the therapy beams for imaging, thus overcoming the long-standing technical obstacle
for achieving the on-line PET imaging method. We will pursue three specific aims to achieve the goal of this
project: 1) Develop and evaluate a brain PET capable for desired on-line imaging; 2) Develop and evaluate
algorithms and software that will select probing beams for range measurement and enable range-shift
compensated beam delivery; 3) Establish and improve the on-line PET based range measurement and
adaptive particle therapy. The success of this project will fill a critical technical gap and make the on-line PET
based range measurement and adaptive particle therapy clinically practical for the first time. It could shift
clinical study with a new image-based particle therapy paradigm, which will significantly improve the particle
beam targeting, enable new and better treatment plan, and improve the therapy efficacy and patient care. The
outcome of this project will also pave the way to develop similar technology for whole-body on-line PET
imaging and adaptive particle therapy applications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9844936
- **Project number:** 5R01CA218402-03
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Weiguo Lu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $514,043
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-02-09 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9844936

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9844936, Novel On-line PET Based Intra-Beam Range Verification and Delivery Optimization for Improved Particle Radiation Therapy (5R01CA218402-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9844936. Licensed CC0.

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