MedAustron offers numerous opportunities for clinical research, ranging from basic to translational and applied research. Thereby, radiation oncology, medical radiation physics and radiation biology are closely linked. Through this inter-disciplinary research, the target, a significant increase in tumour control and survival using a biologically individualised, technologically enhanced radiation beam therapy, can be achieved.
Thus, almost all patients shall be treated within the scope of clinical studies at MedAustron. New scientific and technological knowledge is incorporated in treatment plans. The primary goal of clinical research is to make clear medical statements about the benefits of ion beam therapy at specific indications and the comparative effectiveness of protons and carbon ions.
The following clinical research programmes are planned amongst others:
Consolidated indications for ion beam therapy, advantages of ion beam therapy over conventional radiation beam therapy have been documented by published data.
- Dose and treatment optimisation by fractionation studies.
- Optimisation of imaging for verification of hypoxic tumour areas and integration into treatment planning.
- Optimisation of imaging for verification of tumour response.
Prospective randomised studies to ensure data availability – expectation of higher treatment success.
- Indications likely to profit from ion beam therapy, based on the results of the comparative treatment planning and the available data, but have not yet been examined by randomised studies with sufficiently high numbers of cases
- Studies comparing the value of surgery versus primary ion beam therapy for localised tumours.
Prospective randomised studies to ensure data availability – expected reduction in side effects.
- Long-term studies to investigate the long-term side effects on normal tissues and the surrounding organs at risk.
- Long-term studies to investigate the quality of life after brain irradiation.
- Long-term studies regarding the risk of radiogenic secondary tumours.
