Three Decades of Charged Particles Therapy in France

• Jean-Louis Habrand (Centre Baclesse)

Following preliminary investigations in the 80s, on neutron therapy (Centre Hospitalier La Source, Orléans), with approx 1,000 pts treated, protontherapy (PT) has developed since 1991 in Nice (low energy, MEDICYC project, Centre Antoine Lacassagne), and Paris (low & high energy, CPO, University of Paris-South/Orsay). Active ocular programs were implemented initially, followed by deep-seated intra and later extracranial conditions, including pioneering pediatric protocols in children, in Paris (1995). More recently, dedicated modern equipments dealing with isocentric gantries and spot-scanning technology have been made available in Paris (ICPO, 2010), and Nice (IMPT, 2017) with a total of >12,000 pts and 8,000 pts managed, respectively. The CYCLHAD Center (and affiliated ARCHADE research program) in Caen (Normandy), opened in 2019, has been designed as an ambitious two-step model: 1/ An IBA Proteus-One solution for PT with > 1,000 pts treated so far, followed by 2/ An innovative concept of cyclotron dedicated to heavy ions (and protons): the C400. These projects have benefited from the support of the French Ministry of Health (patients medical care), the French Ministry of Research (including the National France-Hadron program), UNICANCER (French Federation of Cancer Centers), and Regional and European grants.

The CYCLHAD facility, present and future

• Gabriel Gaubert (CYCLHAD)

Since 2018, CYCLHAD has been engaged in research and development activities in proton therapy. A new milestone is currently underway to enable expanded heavy ions like carbon ion therapy capabilities by 2027, promising even more precise and effective cancer treatments. The unique set-up combining access to proton, helium and carbon ion, is described from proton therapy deployment with the P-One single room system to the future possibilities to come with the new C400 machine from NHA delivering heavy ion beams.

THE C400 IONS, THE INNOVATIVE MULTI-ION CYCLOTRON BY NHA. PROJECT AND INSTALLATION STATUS

• Virgile Letellier

The C400 IONS system is the first multi-ion therapy system based on a cyclotron worldwide. The Normandy Hadronthery (NHa) company designs, produces, and markets this new multi-ion radiotherapy system while IBA experts are deeply involved in all aspects of its conception. The first installation is ongoing in Caen - France and the first beam delivery is foreseen in 2026. The C400 IONS is an innovative system developed on a 400 MeV/u isochronous cyclotron, it can generate a high dose rate of carbon ions, protons and helium ions. The beam delivery and treatment room design of this multi-ion treatment system is based on the IBA Proteus®PLUS equipment. The C400 IONS fixed horizontal beamlines use pencil beam scanning technology and provide, e.g., planar imaging, a 6D robotic patient positioning system coupled with either a couch or a chair, and specific accessories like a ripple filter. This new multi-particle radiotherapy system inherits and improves on many proven technologies and the latest innovations developed for the IBA Proton Therapy systems. In this presentation, we will focus specifically on the latest developments around the C400 cyclotron technology, and the latest specifications in terms of isocenter beam performances. A status report of the project, with an overview of the ongoing installation and foreseen milestones will also be given.

Discussion