A proton therapy model using discrete difference equations with an example of treating hepatocellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Oncology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Proton therapy is an advanced cancer treatment utilizing localized particle exposure.
• It minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissues, reducing side effects compared to conventional radiotherapy.
• Understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics of tumor response to proton therapy is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and parameterize a novel discrete difference equation model simulating cancer and healthy cell dynamics during proton therapy.
• To compare the efficacy of different proton therapy treatment courses in controlling tumors, specifically Hepatocellular carcinoma.
• To evaluate the impact of conformal versus non-conformal proton therapy on tumor control and radiation dose.

Main Methods:

• Development of a one-dimensional discrete difference equation model for cell growth, diffusion, and proton radiation.
• Parameterization of the model using in vitro and clinical data from Hepatocellular carcinoma studies.
• Simulation and comparison of tumor control for various clinically relevant proton therapy treatment courses.

Main Results:

• The model successfully simulates the spatial and temporal dynamics of cancer and healthy cells under proton therapy.
• Conformal proton therapy demonstrated significantly better tumor control compared to non-conformal approaches.
• Conformal proton therapy achieved superior tumor control at lower overall treatment doses.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides a valuable tool for predicting and optimizing proton therapy outcomes.
• Conformal proton therapy is recommended for clinical use due to its enhanced efficacy and reduced dose delivery.
• Further research can refine the model for more complex biological systems and treatment scenarios.