Hypofractionated Carbon Ion Therapy delivered with Scanned Ion Beams for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma – Feasibility and Clinical Response

Introduction: Photon-based radiation therapy does currently not play a major role as local ablative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. High doses are required for long-term control of HCC- lesions but are difficult to apply because of a relatively low radiation tolerance of the normal liver tissue, even with modern radiation techniques. Therefore carbon ions offer distinct physical and biological advantages. Due to their inverted dose profile and the high local dose deposition within the Bragg peak, precise dose application and sparing of normal tissue is possible. Furthermore, carbon ions have an increased…