Robust, planning-based targeted locoregional tumour heating in small animals
Jort A Groen1,2,3, Johannes Crezee1,2,3, Hanneke W M van Laarhoven3,4
1Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Physics in Medicine and Biology
|March 12, 2024
Summary
The ALBA micro8 system provides precise, robust locoregional hyperthermia for preclinical research. Simulations confirm its ability to accurately target tumors in mice, crucial for developing new cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Preclinical hyperthermia research is vital for advancing clinical cancer treatment strategies.
- Current preclinical models lack targeted locoregional heating capabilities essential for translating findings.
- The ALBA micro8 electromagnetic heating system was developed to address this gap in preclinical research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the heat focusing properties of the ALBA micro8 system.
- To assess the device's ability to induce robust locoregional tumor heating under simulated physiological conditions.
- To optimize and test treatment plans for preclinical hyperthermia research.
Main Methods:
- Simulations using the Plan2Heat treatment planning package.
- Characterization of specific absorption rate (SAR) focus in a homogeneous phantom.
- Evaluation of heating robustness in a digital mouse model, including sensitivity analysis to tissue properties and perfusion variations.
Main Results:
- The ALBA micro8 system demonstrated well-focused SAR distributions, adjustable for targeted heating (9mm radial, 20mm axial FWHM).
- Simulations showed robustness against respiratory motion and organ filling (∆T90 ≤ 0.14°C).
- Positional errors and tissue property uncertainties had minimal impact on temperature distributions (∆T90 ≤ 0.32°C).
Conclusions:
- The preclinical ALBA micro8 phased-array system effectively delivers adequate and robust locoregional heating for deep-seated targets in mice.
- The developed software enables the generation of robust treatment plans for preclinical hyperthermia studies.
- This technology is crucial for advancing the translation of hyperthermia research into clinical practice.
