Application of Monte Carlo Methods in Molecular Targeted Radionuclide Therapy

Conference · Tue Feb 19 04:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:15005304

Hartmann Siantar, C; Descalle, M-A; DeNardo, G L; Nigg, D W

Targeted radionuclide therapy promises to expand the role of radiation beyond the treatment of localized tumors. This novel form of therapy targets metastatic cancers by combining radioactive isotopes with tumor-seeking molecules such as monoclonal antibodies and custom-designed synthetic agents. Ultimately, like conventional radiotherapy, the effectiveness of targeted radionuclide therapy is limited by the maximum dose that can be given to a critical, normal tissue, such as bone marrow, kidneys, and lungs. Because radionuclide therapy relies on biological delivery of radiation, its optimization and characterization are necessarily different than for conventional radiation therapy. We have initiated the development of a new, Monte Carlo transport-based treatment planning system for molecular targeted radiation therapy as part of the MINERVA treatment planning system. This system calculates patient-specific radiation dose estimates using a set of computed tomography scans to describe the 3D patient anatomy, combined with 2D (planar image) and 3D (SPECT, or single photon emission computed tomography) to describe the time-dependent radiation source. The accuracy of such a dose calculation is limited primarily by the accuracy of the initial radiation source distribution, overlaid on the patient's anatomy. This presentation provides an overview of MINERVA functionality for molecular targeted radiation therapy, and describes early validation and implementation results of Monte Carlo simulations.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 15005304
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-147354
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BONE MARROW
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEOPLASMS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
SHIELDING
SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
THERAPY