Progress in Tumor Radiotherapy with Carbon Ion Beams

Key words: 
• tumor /
• radiotherapy /
• carbon ion /
• heavy ion /
• highLET

Abstract: Heavy ions (carbon ions) were considered currently as the best radiation in radiotherapy for their two superiorities in the physical and biological properties. This paper firstly put the focus on the history of development of heavyion radiotherapy in the world， then a comprehensive analysis of the indications and radiation damages of normal tissues in clinical trails of heavyion therapy was made based on the published data by NIRS. Moreover, the prospect of using carbon ions in radiotherapy was estimated by analyzing the potential patients’ number, its related instruments and etc.