Ionizing Radiation Acoustic Imaging for Proton Treatment Monitoring in Prostate Cancer
This clinical trial evaluates the use of ionizing-radiation photo acoustic imaging (iRAI) to monitor proton radiation treatment in patients with prostate cancer. Proton therapy has improved patient treatment outcomes in various cancers, reducing toxicities with comparable or better survival rates to photon treatment. iRAI is a unique, non-invasive, and practical tool for real-time monitoring radiation doses and proton beam ranges in three-dimensional (3D) tomography (scan). It is a method of collecting images from inside the body using acoustic (sound) waves. The iRA waves are essentially induced (created) by the tissue's thermal expansion (heat increase) when the radiation deposits the local energy to the tumor for patient treatment. It can be used to monitor the dose delivered during radiation therapy, ensuring that the correct dose is delivered to the target tissue and minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. iRAI may improve accuracy and safety in the delivery of proton radiation treatment in patients with prostate cancer.