Tumor therapy with high-energy carbon ion beams

Heavy-ion beams offer favourable conditions for the treatment of deep-seated local tumors. The well defined range and the small lateral beam spread make it possible to deliver the dose with millimeter precision by applying advanced beam scanning techniques. In addition, heavy ions have an enhanced biological effectiveness in the Bragg peak region which is caused by the dense ionization and the resulting reduced cellular repair rate. Furthermore, heavy ions offer the unique possibility of in-vivo range monitoring by applying Positron-Emission-Tomography (PET) techniques. Taking advantage of these clinically relevant properties, more than 300 patients have been treated with carbon ions at GSI Darmstadt since December 1997 with very promising results. A dedicated heavy-ion treatment center at the Radiological Clinic Heidelberg with a design capacity of 1000 patients per year is under construction and expected to start operation end of 2007.