Speaker: Dr. Vitali Moiseenko from UCSD.
Topic: “Biologically guided radiation therapy”
Time: 2:00 PM, Friday, March 27, 2015 (refreshments served at 1:45 PM)
Place: P-148 (refreshments will be served at 1:45 in P-145A)
Abstract:
Heterogeneous biological properties of tumors and normal tissues have been long appreciated. Quantitative imaging has been advocated to define target volumes in tumors and assess tumor response, as well as to account for functional burden distribution in normal tissues. This imaging, however, faces numerous challenges including specificity, means of reconstruction and ultimately whether imaging for biological properties can pave a way to improving treatment outcomes. These challenges and possible solutions will be addressed in this presentation. Specifically, use of single-photon emission computed tomography to define functional lung in lung cancer patients, and use of FDOPA-PET to delineate target volumes in high grade glioma patients will be discussed. Means to identify volumes responsible for function preservation will be illustrated based on the study of xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.