Andrea Attili

Bio: Andrea Attili is an academic researcher from Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare. The author has contributed to research in topics: Monte Carlo method & Particle therapy. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 50 publications receiving 563 citations. Previous affiliations of Andrea Attili include University of Turin.

Hadrontherapy: a Geant4-Based Tool for Proton/Ion-Therapy Studies

Abstract: Hadrontherapy is a C++ , free and open source application developed using the Geant4 Monte Carlo libraries. The basic version of Hadrontherapy is contained in the official Geant4 distribution (www.cern.ch/Geant4/download), in- side the category of the advanced examples. This version permits the simulation of a typical proton/ion transport beam line and the calculation of dose and fluence distributions inside a test phantom. A more complete version of the program is separately maintained and released by the authors and it offers a wider set of tools useful for Users interested in proton/ion-therapy studies. It gives the possibility to retrieve ion stopping powers in arbitrary geometrical configuration, to calculate 3D distributions of fluences, dose deposited and LET of primary and of the generated secondary beams, to simulate typical nuclear physics experiments, to interactively switch between different implemented geometries, etc. In this work the main characteristics of the actual full version of Hadrontherapy will be reported and results dis- cussed and compared with the available experimental data. For more information the reader can refer to the Hadrontherapy website.

Extension of TOPAS for the simulation of proton radiation effects considering molecular and cellular endpoints.

Abstract: The aim of this work is to extend a widely used proton Monte Carlo tool, TOPAS, towards the modeling of relative biological effect (RBE) distributions in experimental arrangements as well as patients. TOPAS provides a software core which users configure by writing parameter files to, for instance, define application specific geometries and scoring conditions. Expert users may further extend TOPAS scoring capabilities by plugging in their own additional C++ code. This structure was utilized for the implementation of eight biophysical models suited to calculate proton RBE. As far as physics parameters are concerned, four of these models are based on the proton linear energy transfer, while the others are based on DNA double strand break induction and the frequency-mean specific energy, lineal energy, or delta electron generated track structure. The biological input parameters for all models are typically inferred from fits of the models to radiobiological experiments. The model structures have been implemented in a coherent way within the TOPAS architecture. Their performance was validated against measured experimental data on proton RBE in a spread-out Bragg peak using V79 Chinese Hamster cells. This work is an important step in bringing biologically optimized treatment planning for proton therapy closer to the clinical practice as it will allow researchers to refine and compare pre-defined as well as user-defined models.

INSIDE in-beam positron emission tomography system for particle range monitoring in hadrontherapy.

Abstract: The quality assurance of particle therapy treatment is a fundamental issue that can be addressed by developing reliable monitoring techniques and indicators of the treatment plan correctness. Among the available imaging techniques, positron emission tomography (PET) has long been investigated and then clinically applied to proton and carbon beams. In 2013, the Innovative Solutions for Dosimetry in Hadrontherapy (INSIDE) collaboration proposed an innovative bimodal imaging concept that combines an in-beam PET scanner with a tracking system for charged particle imaging. This paper presents the general architecture of the INSIDE project but focuses on the in-beam PET scanner that has been designed to reconstruct the particles range with millimetric resolution within a fraction of the dose delivered in a treatment of head and neck tumors. The in-beam PET scanner has been recently installed at the Italian National Center of Oncologic Hadrontherapy (CNAO) in Pavia, Italy, and the commissioning phase has just started. The results of the first beam test with clinical proton beams on phantoms clearly show the capability of the in-beam PET to operate during the irradiation delivery and to reconstruct on-line the beam-induced activity map. The accuracy in the activity distal fall-off determination is millimetric for therapeutic doses.

The INSIDE Project: Innovative Solutions for In-Beam Dosimetry in Hadrontherapy

Abstract: Dosimetry in Hadrontherapy M. Marafini, A. Attili, G. Battistoni, N. Belcari, M.G. Bisogni, N. Camarlinghi, F. Cappucci, M. Cecchetti, P. Cerello, F. Ciciriello , G.A.P. Cirrone, S. Coli, F. Corsi , G. Cuttone, E. De Lucia, S. Ferretti, R. Faccini, E. Fiorina, P.M. Frallicciardi, G. Giraudo, E. Kostara, A. Kraan, F. Licciulli , B. Liu, N. Marino, C. Marzocca , G. Matarrese , C. Morone, M. Morrocchi, S. Muraro, V. Patera, F. Pennazio, C. Peroni, L. Piersanti, M.A. Piliero, G. Pirrone, A. Rivetti, F. Romano, V. Rosso, P. Sala, A. Sarti, A. Sciubba, G. Sportelli, C. Voena, R. Wheadon and A. Del Guerra Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche E. Fermi , Roma, Italy b−f INFN Sezione di: Roma, Roma; Torino, Torino; Milano, Milano; Pisa, Pisa; Bari, Bari; Italy Laboratori Nazionali del Sud dell'INFN, Catania, Italy Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell'INFN, Frascati, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze di Base e Applicate per Ingegneria, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Roma, Italy

Characterization of a front-end electronics for the monitoring and control of hadrontherapy beams

Abstract: An integrated 64-channel device for the read-out of parallel plate pixel and strip ionization detectors has been developed by the INFN and University of Torino. The detectors will be used for the monitoring and control of hadrontherapy beams. The ASIC has been designed in CMOS 0.8 μm technology and it is based on a current-to-frequency converter followed by a synchronous counter. In this paper, we present a detailed characterization of the device done with 113 chips.

Stochastic Processes in Physics and Chemistry

Abstract: N G van Kampen 1981 Amsterdam: North-Holland xiv + 419 pp price Dfl 180 This is a book which, at a lower price, could be expected to become an essential part of the library of every physical scientist concerned with problems involving fluctuations and stochastic processes, as well as those who just enjoy a beautifully written book. It provides an extensive graduate-level introduction which is clear, cautious, interesting and readable.

A review of the use and potential of the GATE Monte Carlo simulation code for radiation therapy and dosimetry applications

Abstract: In this paper, the authors' review the applicability of the open-source GATE Monte Carlo simulation platform based on the GEANT4 toolkit for radiation therapy and dosimetry applications. The many applications of GATE for state-of-the-art radiotherapy simulations are described including external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, intraoperative radiotherapy, hadrontherapy, molecular radiotherapy, and in vivo dose monitoring. Investigations that have been performed using GEANT4 only are also mentioned to illustrate the potential of GATE. The very practical feature of GATE making it easy to model both a treatment and an imaging acquisition within the same frameworkis emphasized. The computational times associated with several applications are provided to illustrate the practical feasibility of the simulations using current computing facilities.

A phenomenological relative biological effectiveness (RBE) model for proton therapy based on all published in vitro cell survival data.

Abstract: Proton therapy treatments are currently planned and delivered using the assumption that the proton relative biological effectiveness (RBE) relative to photons is 1.1. This assumption ignores strong experimental evidence that suggests the RBE varies along the treatment field, i.e. with linear energy transfer (LET) and with tissue type. A recent review study collected over 70 experimental reports on proton RBE, providing a comprehensive dataset for predicting RBE for cell survival. Using this dataset we developed a model to predict proton RBE based on dose, dose average LET (LETd) and the ratio of the linear-quadratic model parameters for the reference radiation (α/β)x, as the tissue specific parameter. The proposed RBE model is based on the linear quadratic model and was derived from a nonlinear regression fit to 287 experimental data points. The proposed model predicts that the RBE increases with increasing LETd and decreases with increasing (α/β)x. This agrees with previous theoretical predictions on the relationship between RBE, LETd and (α/β)x. The model additionally predicts a decrease in RBE with increasing dose and shows a relationship between both α and β with LETd. Our proposed phenomenological RBE model is derived using the most comprehensive collection of proton RBE experimental data to date. Previously published phenomenological models, based on a limited data set, may have to be revised.

Nuclear physics in particle therapy: a review.

Abstract: Charged particle therapy has been largely driven and influenced by nuclear physics. The increase in energy deposition density along the ion path in the body allows reducing the dose to normal tissues during radiotherapy compared to photons. Clinical results of particle therapy support the physical rationale for this treatment, but the method remains controversial because of the high cost and of the lack of comparative clinical trials proving the benefit compared to x-rays. Research in applied nuclear physics, including nuclear interactions, dosimetry, image guidance, range verification, novel accelerators and beam delivery technologies, can significantly improve the clinical outcome in particle therapy. Measurements of fragmentation cross-sections, including those for the production of positron-emitting fragments, and attenuation curves are needed for tuning Monte Carlo codes, whose use in clinical environments is rapidly increasing thanks to fast calculation methods. Existing cross sections and codes are indeed not very accurate in the energy and target regions of interest for particle therapy. These measurements are especially urgent for new ions to be used in therapy, such as helium. Furthermore, nuclear physics hardware developments are frequently finding applications in ion therapy due to similar requirements concerning sensors and real-time data processing. In this review we will briefly describe the physics bases, and concentrate on the open issues.