Kristian Smeland Ytre-Hauge has been selected as one of four top researchers in Norway to receive funding to build a world-leading research environment in proton therapy.
Professor of Medical Physics at the University of Bergen, Kristian Smeland Ytre‑Hauge, together with national partners, will raise knowledge about proton therapy to a new level. The project BioPrecise Protons får 40 millioner kroner fra Forskningsrådet og går over åtte år.
– One of the main goals is to increase the precision of treatment so that we can avoid irradiating healthy tissue around the cancer tumor to a greater extent., says Ytre-Hauge.
Will reduce radiation damage and improve treatment
Proton therapy is one of the most advanced forms of radiation therapy for cancer. The method makes it possible to confine the radiation dose to a precise, defined depth in the body, which is especially important when treating brain tumors and cancers in the head and neck region. Children will be a priority patient group at the new proton centers in Bergen and Oslo, as they are more susceptible to late damage after radiation therapy.
Although proton therapy already offers great benefits, Ytre-Hauge emphasizes that current practice does not fully utilize its potential.
– To account for limitations in precision, we currently include safety margins around the tumor. This means that a larger area than the actual cancerous tumor is irradiated,, he explains.
Increased precision can reduce these margins, thereby sparing more healthy tissue. It may also allow for higher doses to be delivered to the tumor itself – which could increase the chance of curing more patients.
Combines simulations, laboratory experiments and new technology
The research group will use a combination of computer simulations, cell and animal experiments, and new detector technology to understand how proton radiation works both physically and biologically.
– We will improve calculations of treatment effect and develop new methods for more targeted irradiation of tumors that are currently resistant to radiation., says Ytre-Hauge.
Strengthens radiation biology research
A central element of the project is to fill knowledge gaps about how proton radiation affects cells and tissues.
– Although proton therapy provides clear physical benefits, we still lack sufficient knowledge about the biological mechanisms. The project will provide new insight into the relationship between radiation dose, biological effect and treatment response, he says.
This knowledge is crucial to exploiting the full potential of proton therapy and developing more precise and gentle cancer treatment of the future.