Nanoparticle-aided Radiotherapy for Retinoblastoma and Choroidal Melanoma

Area of Science:

• Medical physics
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Ocular cancers, including retinoblastoma and choroidal melanoma, pose treatment challenges.
• Radiotherapy (RT) is a key treatment modality for these cancers.
• Enhancing RT efficacy while minimizing side effects is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dosimetric feasibility of using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) or carboplatin nano-particles (CNPs) to improve RT for ocular cancers.
• To evaluate nanoparticle enhancement during kV-energy internal and external beam radiotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Simulations were performed to assess dose enhancement with AuNPs and CNPs.
• kV-energy photon beams were considered for both internal (brachytherapy) and external beam RT.
• Dosimetric impact of nanoparticles was analyzed for retinoblastoma and choroidal melanoma models.

Main Results:

• Both AuNPs and CNPs demonstrated substantial dose enhancement potential when combined with kV-energy RT.
• Brachytherapy sources resulted in higher dose enhancement compared to external beams in the kV energy range.
• External beam RT with nanoparticles offers a non-invasive approach with significant therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

• Nanoparticle-enhanced radiotherapy shows promise for treating ocular cancers.
• AuNPs and CNPs are effective radiosensitizers for kV-energy photon therapy.
• The choice between internal and external beam RT depends on balancing dose enhancement and invasiveness.