Samples of vital human tumour tissue irradiated with ions for the first time
Cancer treatment with ion beams developed at GSI is characterised by an excellent cure rate and only minor side effects. The therapy has been routinely in use for a little over one year. The effectiveness of the ion beams not only depends on the tumour type, but also on the genetic disposition and the personal circumstances of the individual patient. For the first time, scientists at GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung have irradiated samples of vital human tumour tissue in the scope of their systematical and fundamental research. Their long-term goal is to enhance the already highly effective ion beam therapy in a way that allows the optimisation of the irradiation dose based on the specific tumour of the individual patient. Such a treatment would constitute a novel approach, as radiation treatment so far only considered the type and position of the tumour...
