From Ion Tracks to Treatment Planning - Group Report

In the recent years, irradiation with swift light ions - from protons up to oxygen - has become an established method in tumour radiotherapy. A prerequisite for successful treatment is the sufficient knowledge of physical and radiobiological processes down to the microscopic or even nanoscopic scale. This report summarizes the achievements of the GSI radiotherapy pilot project and gives on outlook on future developments. In particular the application of ions other than protons and carbon will be addressed, as well as modelling approaches on the nanoscale.