Research

Current research topics include exploring the potential synergies between particle therapy and immunomodulatory drugs, exploring alternative optimization algorithms for carbon ion radiotherapy, investigating the role of particle therapy in unresectable pancreatic tumors, and investigating the role of particle therapy in re-irradiation with a focus on estimating dose constraints for critical risk organs.

The MedAustron Ion Therapy and Research Center, teaching and research site of KL, is one of six centers worldwide that can perform radiation therapy with both protons and carbon ions. Our goal is to reduce the undesirable side effects of radiation (especially for solid tumors in pediatrics, squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, and CNS tumors treated with protons) and to improve local control of radiation-resistant tumors (especially for bulky bone and soft tissue sarcomas, salivary gland tumors, and mucosal melanomas treated with carbon ions). Our mission is to provide the best possible treatment to every patient, to increase the evidence for particle therapy through clinical research, and to explore new applications of particle therapy in the multidisciplinary setting of cancer treatment.

Among the many ongoing activities are: the prospective documentation of the quality of life of patient: inside treated in the CNS and head and neck, developing compelling evidence for sacral chordoma treatment (by leading an international prospective study of particle therapy versus surgery), exploring the potential synergies between particle therapy and immunomodulatory drugs, exploring alternative optimization algorithms for carbon ion radiotherapy, investigating the role of particle therapy in non-resectable pancreatic tumors, investigating the role of particle therapy in re-irradiation with a focus on estimating dose constraints for critical risk organs. In these activities, we rely on close collaboration with the Department of Medical Physics, with the Department of Molecular Oncology and Hematology, and with various surgical departments.