(EPSRC) Developing a technique to treat moving thoracic tumours with spot-scanning proton beam therapy

Thoracic tumours account for the majority of cancer deaths worldwide but early detection and surgery is playing a major role in changing this. Surgery, however, may not always be possible due to other medical conditions or simply being unfit for surgery. For these cases radiotherapy becomes the main form of treatment. The treatment of centrally-located thoracic tumours using conventional radiotherapy raises a number of challenges due to the nearby presence of moderately radio-sensitive organs such as the spinal cord, heart and oesophagus, not to mention the surrounding healthy lung tissue that is extremely radio-sensitive.  This is complicated further by complex tumour motion due to respiration and other biological processes.   

Proton beam therapy has the potential to significantly improve the outcomes of thoracic tumour patients due to the excellent dose localisation compared to conventional x-ray radiotherapy.  The fundamental interactions of protons with human tissue allows the depth-dose profile to be controlled through the proton beam energy. For spot-scanning proton-beam systems, like the one soon to be employed at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, the dose distribution is inherently sensitive to motion because not only is the tumour moving but so is the proton beam.  This relative motion leads to tumour sub-volumes being under or over dosed which has severe clinical implications.  

The proposed project will investigate the efficacy of using proton beam therapy to treat centrally-located thoracic tumours.  In particular how the distortion of the planned dose distribution can be minimised or alleviated using different scanning patterns and beam tracking technology. 

Entry requirements

Candidates are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum UK Upper First or 2:1 (or equivalent) in a related area / subject.

How to apply

For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/).

Interested candidates must first make contact with the Primary Supervisor prior to submitting a formal application, to discuss their interest and suitability for the project.

On the online application form select PhD Biochemistry (this is for application purposes only).

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on the website https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/equality-diversity-inclusion/