Workshop “Particle therapy - future for the Baltic States? State-of-play, synergies and challenges”

Europe/Zurich
160/1-009 (CERN)

160/1-009

CERN

48
Show room on map
Toms Torims (Riga Technical University (LV)), Maurizio Vretenar (CERN)
Description

About the event:

At 9th General Meeting of the CERN Baltic Group (CBG)[1] a designated Working Group “Advanced Particle Therapy Center in the Baltic States” (APTC) has been established. Mandate of the Working Group is the development of the CBG flagship project - creation of a modern, innovative research and cancer treatment center in the Baltic States by jointly working in a close partnership with CERN Next Ion Medical Machine Study (NIMMS)[2] collaboration experts. At the end of 2022 in all three Baltic States, representatives of medical communities, research institutions and relevant ministries were invited to bi-lateral meetings with the Working Group to be informed on the concept and status of the initiative and discuss the view of the community on the project idea. Through discussions, key critical aspects were identified for further work for future developments of the initiative: cancer statistics in the Baltic States region, clinical indications for proton therapy, technology readiness level of the proposed accelerator, synergies with the nuclear medicine field and educational pathways necessary for personnel at such a facility.

The main rationale of the workshop is to follow-up on the mentioned discussions and to jointly brainstorm and work on the identified critical aspects of the “Advanced Particle Therapy Center in the Baltic States” initiative among the key experts of the Baltic States in the involved fields: clinical radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, radiology, medical physics and others. Discussions and outcomes of this workshop are crucial for future developments and the next steps of the project initiative.

 

Goals of the event:

  1. To bring together high level professionals, experts and stakeholders from the Baltic States, nominated by the corresponding professional associations in the fields of clinical radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, radiology, medical physics and others involved to discuss and work on ideas for development of key aspects of the “Advanced Particle Therapy Center in the Baltic States” initiative.
  2. To provide fact-based and scientifically driven reasoning for each of the key aspects of the “Advanced Particle Therapy Center in the Baltic States” initiative based on the afore mentioned stakeholder opinion.
  3. To build multi-disciplinary synergies between the different fields and specialities involved in cancer treatment and three Baltic States at large.
  4. To introduce professionals and experts from the Baltic States with scientific activities at CERN for medical applications and technology transfer to the clinic.
  5. To reach a joint consensus and vision of future development of the “Advanced Particle Therapy Center in the Baltic States” initiative based on the conclusions reached within the workshop.

 

Contributors from:

Heavy Ion Therapy Research Integration project (HITRIplus)[3] 

 

Registration
Remote participation registration form
Participants
  • Wednesday 24 May
    • 09:00 21:00
      Arrivals of participants 12h 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
    • 20:00 22:30
      Social dinner 2h 30m
    • 08:00 09:00
      Visit to Synchrocyclotron 1h 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
    • 09:00 09:20
      Opening and goals of the workshop 20m 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
      Speakers: Prof. Toms Torims (Convener of CBG APTC working group), Diana Adliene (Vice-convener of CBG APTC working group), Maurizio Vretenar (CERN)
    • 09:20 09:30
      Welcome by CERN's Director for Accelerators and Technology 10m 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
      Speaker: Mike Lamont (CERN)
    • 09:30 09:40
      View of the Baltic Assembly 10m 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
      Speaker: Ms Antoņina Ņenaševa (Baltic Assembly (Vice Chair of the Health, Welfare and Family Committee of the Baltic Assembly))
    • 09:40 10:40
      Session I “Cancer statistics and indication profile in the Baltic States. Status of radiotherapy technologies in the Baltic States.” 1h 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map

      Key topics: Reaching a “critical mass” of the number of patients that could be treated with proton and particle therapy is one of the most crucial aspects behind a successful operation of a clinical facility. Cancer statistics in the Baltic States are to be discussed – number of patients diagnosed with cancer and treated with radiation therapy yearly. Most common malignancies are to be indicated with a correspondence to eligibility for particle therapy, as well as indications with currently sub-optimal treatment options are to be discussed. Lastly, technological level of currently used radiation therapy techniques, statistics of RT equipment and future projects of novel radiation therapy device installations as alternatives, such as MRI-LINACs, are discussed.

      Moderator: Dace Bogorada-Saukuma (Latvian Therapeutic Radiology Association)

      Speakers: Erika Korobeinikova (Lithuanian Society for Radiation Therapy / Lithuanian University of Health Sciences), Kristaps Palskis (Riga Technical University (LV) / CERN), Manjit Dosanjh
    • 10:40 10:50
      Coffee break 10m 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
    • 10:50 11:50
      Session II “Clinical indications for proton and particle therapy. Existing clinical evidence and on-going clinical trials” 1h 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map

      Key topics: Proton and particle therapy is still considered a novel and unique cancer treatment modality that could be applied to challenging cancer cases. Clinical evidence is not comprehensive for all the oncological malignancies and particular indications have shown clearer benefits compared to others. Main cancer types and oncological indications eligible for proton and particle therapy are to be indicated and discussed. On-going clinical trials for further developments for evidence-based medicine are to be discussed, along with currently existing consensus statements for different cancer types. Briefly, alternative approaches for patient selection compared to evidence-based medicine are to be discussed.

      Moderator: Erika Korobeinikova (Lithuanian Society for Radiation Therapy / Lithuanian University of Health Sciences)

      Speaker: Dr Anna Maria Camarda (The National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO))
    • 12:00 13:20
      LUNCH BREAK 1h 20m 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
    • 13:20 14:20
      Session III “The technology of helium synchrotron: technology readiness level and research needed” 1h 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map

      Key topics: Helium synchrotron is a technology still in an active development stage within the Next Ion Medical Machine Study (NIMMS) collaboration at CERN. Current status of the technology and technology readiness level are to be discussed. Potential challenges in the development stage of such a technology and during the construction process of the machine will be covered. Scientific researcher inputs necessary for the development will be listed.

      Moderators: Taylor Rebecca (Imperial College, CERN), Toms Torims (Convener of CBG APTC working group)

      Speakers: Elena Benedetto (SEEIIST Association (CH)), Maurizio Vretenar (CERN)
    • 14:20 15:20
      Session IV “Current status of nuclear medicine in the Baltic States. Trends and research pathways going into the future” 1h 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map

      Key topics: In the proposed facility, a novel idea of radioactive isotope production using linear accelerator is foreseen. Such a method could allow more efficient production of specific radioisotopes with non-conventional nuclear production pathways. “To look in the future”, firstly the present status of the nuclear medicine field is to be reported and discussed within the 3 Baltic States – main radioisotopes used and clinical procedures. Insights gained from participation in the PRISMAP project will be shared with the focus on novel radioisotopes considered for future clinical applications and scientific research needed to develop production methods of such isotopes.

      Moderator: Diana Adliene (Vice-convener of CBG APTC working group)

      Speakers: Edgars Mamis (University of Latvia (LV) / CERN), Prof. Maija Radzina (University of Latvia / Latvian Radiology Association (joining remotely))
    • 15:20 16:20
      Session V “Educational necessities and possible solution pathways for clinical and technical personnel training” 1h 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map

      Key topics: From previous discussions, a clear need to understand educational and training opportunities of personnel, both clinical and technical, was identified, as currently specialists in particle therapy related fields are lacking. Key necessity areas are to be defined and international educational opportunities and collaborations are to be discussed. Ways, how to implement the possible solutions of the educational aspects early-on within the project initiative, are to be discussed and identified.

      Moderator: Andrejs Ērglis (University of Latvia)

      Speakers: Dr Erika Korobeinikova (Lithuanian Society for Radiation Therapy / Lithuanian University of Health Sciences), Kristaps Palskis (Riga Technical University (LV)), Manjit Dosanjh (University of Oxford / CERN)
    • 16:20 16:35
      Coffee break 15m 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
    • 16:35 17:25
      Feedback from moderators of each session 50m 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
    • 17:25 17:40
      Closing words 15m 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map
      Speakers: Prof. Toms Torims (Convener of CBG APTC working group), Diana Adliene (Vice-convener of CBG APTC working group)
    • 17:40 18:40
      CERN VISITS: LINAC4 and MEDICIS facility 1h 160/1-009

      160/1-009

      CERN

      48
      Show room on map

      2 groups organized for 2 visits of 30 mins