Planning software for particle therapy with protons: Cancer Research Center and Siemens Medical Solutions increase cooperation

Radiation therapy research is one of the most important focal points at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The work of the medical physicists is coming to fruition: the Center and Siemens Medical Solutions recently signed a cooperative as well as licensing agreement for software to be used for the planning of particle therapy with protons.

While Siemens receives the exclusive right of use for software and calculation methods for accurately planning particle therapy sessions with protons, the company reciprocates by supporting research positions for a period of three years. Additionally, the Institute benefits from revenues through the sale of software for therapy planning. DKFZ provides the required knowledge, works closely with Siemens Medical Solutions on product development, and then takes over clinical testing and further development of the planning programs.

In particle therapy, protons or carbon ions are brought to a very high speed with an accelerator system and accurately targeted at the tumor. The particles cause irreparable damage to the tumor cells. Through highly accurate computations and control, tumors of complex shape can be irradiated with millimeter precision, sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
Important components of the licensing agreement concluded between the DKFZ Office of Technology Transfer and Siemens include the planning program for tumors in the brain and the body (“KonRad2“) and for eye tumors (“OCTOPUS“), which were developed to a large extent in the Department of Medical Physics for Radiation Therapy under the direction of Professor Wolfgang Schlegel. The programs enable the required radiation techniques and optimum dose to be calculated quickly based on CT and MRI images.

“This cooperation with Siemens will be another great milestone in the development of particle therapy," stated Schlegel. The new products will be used at the University Clinic in Heidelberg once the heavy ion therapy (HIT) system is completed. “Siemens will implement the technologies developed within the framework of the cooperative agreement in standard solutions for particle therapy, making them available to cancer patients worldwide," said Walter Folberth, Senior Vice President of Particle Therapy at Siemens Medical Solutions.