New cancer treatment using radioactive ion beams shows promise in mice

A groundbreaking study has demonstrated the successful use of radioactive ion beams to treat tumors in mice, offering hope for future cancer therapies in humans.

Published on arXiv.org, this innovative method allows researchers to monitor the precise location of the treatment in real time, ensuring high precision in targeting tumors.

For the first time, scientists used radioactive carbon-11 ion beams to treat a tumor located near a mouse's spine with millimeter-level precision. This breakthrough is particularly significant for treating tumors located near sensitive areas, such as the spinal cord or brain stem, where traditional treatments often pose risks.

Unlike conventional X-ray treatments, which can harm surrounding healthy tissue due to their broad energy spread, radioactive ion beams deliver energy directly to the tumor. Carbon-11 ions, being radioactive, release positrons as they decay. These positrons can be detected using positron emission tomography (PET), enabling researchers to track where the beam's energy is concentrated.

What sets this technique apart is its ability to treat the tumor while simultaneously monitoring the beam's location in real time. This allows for more precise targeting, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. In the study, researchers successfully used the beam to shrink tumors while confirming the beam's accuracy.

Previous attempts to track stable ion beams using PET were hindered by limited positron emissions from stable isotopes. However, the use of radioactive ion beams like carbon-11 provides higher positron emissions, enabling clearer imaging and treatment confirmation. This advancement enhances the precision of cancer treatments and offers insights into how radioactive materials behave in the body post-treatment.