Transforming bone cancer care for personalised treatment plans

Published on Jan. 11, 2025, 8:46 p.m.

January 2025 marks the start of a new EIC project: the BoneOscopy. Pedro Assis (DF) coordinates LIP's effort to build detectors to potentiate a novel technique for proton radiotherapy for bone metastasis.

Bone metastasis is a severe and incurable condition, causing 2–3 million cancer-related deaths annually. About 5–10% of new bone cancer patients develop this complex disease. Current monitoring methods face challenges due to patient pain, mobility issues, and high radiation exposure during imaging, leading to scans only at diagnosis and post-treatment, delaying personalized care.

The EU-funded BoneOscopy project is revolutionizing this approach by developing real-time imaging technology during particle radiation therapy (PRT). Over five years, researchers will create a method to monitor calcium levels and tumor regression without additional radiation. This innovation aims to enhance patient care, improve outcomes, and allow data-driven treatment decisions.

Unlocking Spectroscopy Potential

BoneOscopy utilizes prompt gamma spectroscopy (PGS), a method for analyzing chemical compositions using particle beams. Previously limited by small sample sizes, the technology now detects gamma rays from irradiated tissues, enabling calcium analysis in bone cancer patients. Early tests in Heidelberg proved feasibility, paving the way for high-resolution spectroscopy analysis in complex environments.

Collaborative Expertise

BoneOscopy’s success depends on an interdisciplinary team combining bioengineering, biology, physics, robotics, and clinical experience. Partners include DKFZ for biology and radiation therapy, CSIC for imaging and robotics, LIP for particle detector development, and THM for clinical expertise. Industry leaders Cosylab and accelCH provide technological and project management support. Together, they aim to develop groundbreaking solutions for real-time cancer monitoring and treatment.

More information here.