MuBeam-2: Revolutionizing Radiotherapy: Precision Treatment with Fewer Side Effects : Date:
The microbeam therapy project is advancing a groundbreaking form of radiotherapy that targets tumours with ultra-precise, high-intensity X-ray beams – sparing healthy tissue and requiring only a single treatment session. The
goal: to bring this promising technology from lab to clinic
Feasibility phase
About 500,000 people in Germany are diagnosed with cancer every year. Half of these patients receive radiotherapy in the course of their treatment. The main problem of treatment with radiation is the damage to healthy tissue surrounding the tumour. Microbeam therapy is a promising solution. In this therapy, the therapeutic field is divided into many micrometre-wide, parallel radiation beams and irradiated with high intensity and high precision. This considerably reduces the damage to healthy tissue. Instead of receiving several radiation appointments over weeks, a single treatment session is sufficient. However, the therapy is still in preclinical research and there is no prototype for use in humans.
From Preclinical Innovation to Clinical Reality
The main goal of the project is the translation of microbeam therapy into clinical application. To this end the innovative technology of the Line Focus X-ray Tube (LFXT), which has already been tested in preclinical trials, is being further developed for use in patients. In particular, the device must be larger than previous prototypes and generate higher radiation intensities. Critical technological components need to be developed to demonstrate the feasibility of compact X-ray sources with ultra-high dose rates. There are also technical issues to be resolved, such as finding suppliers for subsequent production and developing a quality management system to meet regulatory requirements.
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