Background: A new transcranial focused ultrasound device has been developed that can induce hyperthermia in a large tissue volume. The purpose of this work is to investigate theoretically how Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) can be effectively treated by combining the fast hyperthermia generated by this focused ultrasound device with external beam radiotherapy.
Methods/Design: To investigate the effect of tumor growth, we have developed a mathematical description of GBM proliferation and diffusion in the context of reaction–diffusion theory. In addition, we have formulated equations describing the impact of radiotherapy and heat on GBM in the reaction–diffusion equation, including tumor regrowth by stem cells. This formulation has been used to predict the effectiveness of the combination treatment for a realistic focused ultrasound heating scenario.
Our results show that patient survival could be significantly improved by this combined treatment modality.
Discussion: High priority should be given to experiments to validate the therapeutic benefit predicted by our model.
Biography
Giovanni Borasi was born in Morgex (Ao) - Italy in 1944 and he took a Degree in Theoretical Physics in 1967 at Pavia University, with First Class Honours. Afterwards he became specialized in Medical Physics and from 1972 to 1985. He worked at the Medical Physics Service of the Cà Granda-Niguarda Hospital in Milano. In 1985 he moved to the S. Maria Nuova Hospital in Reggio Emilia where I founded the Medical Physics Service of this Hospital. My service is now composed by 13 Physicists (5 Are Consultants) and 6 technicians. We have a very important cooperation with Milano and Bologna Universities and several students frequent the service both for graduate and specialization thesis. They are deeply engaged into radiotherapy (2 Linacs With MLC, Ir 192-HDR Brachitherapy, Several 3D Treatment Planning Systems With Inverse Planning, Two Virtual Simulation Workstations, A Control And Verification System, Etc…). With a special interest toward IMRT (we did the first treatment in Italy in March 2001). Next year we plan the installation of a new tomotherapy unit. We give also a relevant support to the nuclear medicine department, where are operating 2 SPECT, One CT-PET and a cyclotron unit. We have also relevant projects in radiology where an epochal transition to the digital world is ongoing. In 1999, we installed a new RIS, connected with the main hospital information system (both From SMS). Now the Radiology Dpt. is nearly totally digitalized with 4 DR and 6 CR Units And A PACS System. We have 3 Multislice CT and One MRI (1T) Unit. A new high field (1.5 Or 3 T) MRI Unit is planned for this year.
