Roadmap: helium ion therapy.

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Particle Therapy

Background:

• Helium ion beam therapy, explored in the 1950s, faced limited clinical progression compared to proton and carbon ion therapies.
• Understanding of helium ion beam therapy's physics, biology, and clinical applications remains limited due to restricted availability.
• There is a resurgence of interest in helium ion beam therapy for aggressive and sensitive cancer cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art and future directions for helium ion therapy.
• To explore the potential of helium ions as an intermediate particle for advancing light and heavy ion therapy.
• To outline key areas for research and development in physics, biology, and clinical applications of helium ion beams.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and research on helium ion beam therapy.
• Analysis of the physical and radio-biological properties of helium ions in comparison to protons and heavier ions.
• Discussion of current and future research tasks in physics, biology, and clinical perspectives.

Main Results:

• Helium ions offer superior physical properties, including reduced scattering and straggling, and higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) compared to protons.
• Compared to heavy ions like carbon, helium ions provide similar physical benefits with reduced radio-biological uncertainties and less fragmentation.
• Helium ions present a potential economic steppingstone towards broader adoption of particle therapies.

Conclusions:

• Helium ion therapy presents a promising alternative or adjunct to existing particle therapies.
• Further research in physics, biology, and clinical approaches is crucial for establishing robust helium ion therapy programs.
• Helium ion beams may bridge the gap between proton and heavy ion therapy, facilitating wider clinical implementation.