Improving how radiation oncologists define treatment areas for cancer
Automated interactive definition of the clinical target volume in radiation oncology
This study is working on a smart tool to help doctors better target cancer treatment with radiation, especially for tough cancers like glioma and sarcoma, so they can treat the cancer effectively while protecting healthy tissue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11009927 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the process of defining the clinical target volume (CTV) in radiation therapy, which is crucial for effectively treating cancer while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. By utilizing machine learning techniques, the project seeks to automate the CTV definition process, making it more accurate and efficient. Additionally, a user-friendly interface will be developed to allow oncologists to interact with the automated system, ensuring they can make necessary adjustments based on individual patient anatomy. The focus will be on challenging cancer types such as glioma and sarcoma, but the methods could be applied to other cancers as well.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with glioma or sarcoma who require radiation therapy.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that do not require radiation therapy or those who are not undergoing treatment may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more precise radiation treatments, improving outcomes and reducing side effects for cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in automating treatment planning in radiation oncology, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bortfeld, Thomas R. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Bortfeld, Thomas R.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.