Marburg ion beam therapy center
The Marburg Ion Beam Therapy Center (MIT) is a synchrotron facility for radiation therapy for cancer patients with accelerated particles: particle therapy . Particle therapy works with protons or carbon- 12 ions ( heavy ion therapy ).
MIT started operating in October 2015 for treating patients. The MIT is run by Rhön-Klinikum AG, which u. a. also operates the University Hospital Gießen and Marburg . Originally, MIT was operated by the Heidelberg University Hospital together with Rhön-Klinikum AG. Rhön-Klinikum AG has been the sole sponsor of MIT since 2019.
history
MIT is the second heavy ion therapy facility in Germany . There are eleven ion beam therapy centers worldwide (as of 2018). The MIT was - based on basic research, design and clinical test testing at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung Darmstadt (GSI) - planned by Rhön-Klinikum AG (RKA) together with Siemens Medical Solutions and built on the site of the University Hospital Marburg, after RKA opened the hospital from the state of Hesse in 2006. The construction costs were raised exclusively from funds from the Rhön-Klinikum AG and were part of the 2006 agreement with the State of Hesse. The Rhön-Klinikum AG, Siemens AG, Karl-Ruprecht-Universität Heidelberg, the State of Hesse and Philipps -Universität Marburg founded a joint operating company "Marburger Ionentherapiezentrum GmbH - MIT GmbH". The patient operation started in October 2015.
MIT GmbH's application for insolvency in September 2018 was averted after Rhön-Klinikum AG bought 75.1 percent of Heidelberg University Hospital. Rhön-Klinikum AG has been the sole shareholder of MIT since August 1, 2019.
Effect and therapy
Radiation therapy is an essential part of cancer treatment. For decades, tumor patients have been treated with high-energy X-rays (photon beams). The healthy tissue surrounding the tumor to be treated is inevitably exposed to a certain dose; this can lead to undesirable side effects. Due to certain physical and biological effects, modern particle therapy is able to protect healthy tissue much better. In particle therapy, the particles radiate through the healthy tissue in front of the tumor with almost no energy output. Only near the end of their orbit do they suddenly release almost all of their energy in an area only a few millimeters deep, the so-called Bragg peak . The tissue depth in which this Bragg peak is located can be influenced by the pre-acceleration of the particles. A tumor is captured three-dimensionally by many superimposed Bragg peaks from different energy layers and irradiated with high precision using a raster scan process. Very high doses are achieved in the tumor, which lead to the death of the tumor cells.
Particle radiation is suitable for tumors that are otherwise insensitive to radiation and which cannot be treated adequately with conventional radiation therapy. Particle therapy is also suitable for tumors that are surrounded by highly radiation-sensitive tissue such as the eye, optic nerve or intestine.
In adults, particle therapy can be used successfully for tumors of the central nervous system, the base of the skull, the paranasal sinuses, the salivary glands, the prostate, the pancreas and various tumors in the ENT area. Particle therapy can also be indicated for localized, radiation-resistant tumors such as sarcomas that do not respond to other therapy concepts.
Children have a special role in the therapy concept. Since their healthy, growing tissue reacts very sensitively to classic X-ray radiation, children and adolescents in Germany are treated in multimodal therapy studies - including particle beams - in pediatric oncology.
Depending on the indication and treatment plan, particle therapy is used alone or in combination with medication as well as with conventional radiation therapy (X-rays). In the latter, the tumor cells can be pre-damaged in a process known as “boost” in up to ten radiation sessions with particle beams and then further destroyed in further radiation sessions with classic X-ray irradiation.
Radiation technology
An accelerator facility generates the particle beam using a technically and physically complex process. The ions are generated from hydrogen gas (protons) or carbon dioxide gas (carbon ions). On a short straight acceleration path, they pick up a speed of ten percent of the speed of light, are then guided into a circular accelerator ( synchrotron ) and accelerated there to around 75 percent of the speed of light. The particles are decoupled from the accelerator ring, “steered” to the treatment room by magnetic fields, leave the high vacuum of the accelerator system in the treatment room and enter the human tissue after a short distance of air. There are four treatment rooms at MIT. In three of them the particle beam enters the room horizontally, in the fourth the beam comes from above and has an inclination of 45 degrees in relation to the patient couch in order to enable more complicated radiation geometries.
Operation and use
In October 2015, MIT started its patient operation. This was preceded by around a year of technical planning and safeguarding the processes. The technical workforce includes around 35 employees for accelerator and radiation technology, medical physics, information technology and quality management.
building
The Marburg ion beam therapy center is located in a wooded area next to the University Clinic Gießen and Marburg GmbH (UKGM) on the Marburg Lahn Mountains. On around 24,000 square meters, the building houses a row of offices for doctors and technicians, the patient and preparation area, four radiation stations and the synchrotron in a large hall. Buildings and interior design should create a pleasant atmosphere for employees and patients. For this, the building designed by the Stuttgart-based Hammeskrause architects received the “Outstanding Health Buildings 2013” award.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Kerstin Sonnabend: With carbon against cancer . Physik Journal, Volume 14 (2015) No. 12, p. 10
- ^ One year at MIT in Marburg. Article in the Marburger from December 19, 2016
- ^ Hessenschau.de, Frankfurt, Germany: Opposition attacks government because of radiotherapy bankruptcy . In: hessenschau.de . September 14, 2018 ( hessenschau.de [accessed September 14, 2018]).
- ↑ Ion beam therapy: protect healthy tissue and destroy hard-to-reach tumors . DEGRO press release from June 16, 2016
- ↑ Rita Engenhart-Cabillic: Marburg Ion Beam Therapy Center has started clinical operations . Hessisches Ärzteblatt 6/2016
- ^ One year at MIT in Marburg. Article in the Marburger from December 19, 2016
Coordinates: 50 ° 49 ′ 6.2 ″ N , 8 ° 48 ′ 19.3 ″ E