Research Facility for Radiobiological Studies at the University Proton Therapy Dresden

Abstract Purpose: In order to take full advantage of proton radiotherapy, the biological effect of protons in normal and tumor tissue should be investigated and understood in detail. The ongoing discussion on variable relative biological effectiveness along the proton depth dose distribution (eg, Paganetti 2015), and also the administration of concomitant treatments, demands dedicated in vitro trials that prepare the translation into the clinics. Therefore, a setup for radiobiological studies and the corresponding dosimetry should be established that enables in vitro experiments at a horizontal proton beam and a clinical 6 MV photon linear accelerator (Linac) as reference. Methods: The experimental proton beam at the University Proton Therapy Dresden is characterized by high beam availability and reliability throughout the day in parallel to patient treatment. For cell irradiation, a homogeneous 10 × 10 cm2 proton field with an optional spread-out Bragg-peak can be formed. A water-filled phantom was insta...