arXiv subjects

Marco Durante

Publications and source records attributed to Marco Durante.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Measurement of 80-200 MeV/n $^{16}$O nuclear cross-section on Carbon and Polyethylene targets with the nuclear emulsion detector of the FOOT experiment

Accurate knowledge of nuclear fragmentation cross-sections is essential for optimizing charged particle therapy. In this study, conducted within the framework of the FOOT (FragmentatiOn Of Target) experiment, we present the first measurements with a large angular acceptance of total charge-changing cross-section and the cross-section for the production of fragments (production cross-section) for $^{16}$O ions interacting with Carbon (C) and Polyethylene (C$_2$H$_4$) targets in the kinetic energy range of 80 to 200 MeV/nucleon. Measurements were performed using the Emulsion Cloud Chamber (ECC) technique, which combines high spatial resolution and angular acceptance, up to 45$^\circ$. The results are compared with Monte Carlo model predictions. Moreover, the total charge-changing and fragment production cross-sections for $^{16}$O on Hydrogen in the same energy range are derived.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Model-aided quantification of patient-specific benefit in mitigating radiation induced lymphopenia by particle therapy of cancer

Treatment-related lymphopenia is a frequent and clinically significant consequence of cancer therapy that can compromise immune-mediated tumor control and worsen patient outcomes. Despite its importance, no mechanistic framework exists to accurately predict the severity of lymphopenia from patient-specific data. Here, we present a biokinetic model that quantitatively describes lymphocyte depletion and recovery during and after radiotherapy, integrating radiation dose-volume distributions, blood circulation dynamics, and distinct kinetics of fast- and slow-recovering lymphocyte populations. The model was calibrated and validated using 56 independent clinical datasets encompassing various tumor sites and treatment modalities. It reproduces observed lymphocyte counts and enables prediction of individual severity of lymphopenia from baseline or early-treatment counts. Applying this framework, we demonstrate that particle therapy reduces lymphocyte depletion by ~30% compared with photon therapy, providing a quantitative explanation for its observed immune-sparing benefit. By linking radiation physics, immune kinetics, and clinical outcomes, our model establishes a mechanistically grounded predictive approach for anticipating systemic immune toxicity. Beyond radiotherapy, this framework offers a generalizable strategy for integrating early biological markers into treatment optimization, advancing personalized and immune-preserving cancer therapy.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2026

Mixed Ion Beams Enable Simultaneous Treatment and Real-Time Imaging in Carbon Ion Therapy

Carbon ion therapy is one of the most advanced forms of radiotherapy, promising improved efficacy against resistant cancers. However, the high precision offered by the carbon ion Bragg peak requires precise knowledge of the beam range inside the patient. We report the first experimental realization of range monitoring and portal imaging with a mixed ion beam, where carbon ions are treating the tumor while helium ions simultaneously accelerated to the same velocity fully traverse the patient and provide treatment feedback. Using the GSI synchrotron, a beam of 12C3+ and 4He1+ ions is accelerated, exploiting their nearly identical charge-to-mass ratios. Stable extraction with controlled helium fractions down to 7% is demonstrated. Beam characterization reveals that the helium ion Bragg peak can be cleanly separated from the carbon ion fragment background which enables accurate detection of sub-millimeter Bragg peak displacements. Mixed-beam radiographs of a lung-cancer-like phantom offer target position detection to better than 0.5 mm accuracy. This establishes mixed beams as a powerful modality for real-time image guidance in carbon ion therapy, uniquely providing simultaneous treatment delivery, range probing, and portal imaging. By overcoming range uncertainty inside the patient, mixed beams will enable to fully exploit the precision of carbon ion therapy.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2026

Dosimetric Study of Lung Modulation and Motion Effects in Carbon ion Therapy for Lung Cancer

Carbon-ion radiotherapy provides high dose conformity for lung cancer, but its benefit is limited by two sources of uncertainties: interplay between scanned beam delivery and tumor motion, and dose modulation from heterogeneous lung tissue. This study quantifies the separate and combined dosimetric impact of these effects using the GSI TRiP4D treatment planning system. Eighteen lung cancer 4DCT datasets from TCIA were analyzed. A modulation power ($P_{\mathrm{mod}}$) was assigned to lung voxels. Three values were sampled from a Gaussian distribution ($200μ\mathrm{m} \pm 67μ\mathrm{m}$), and an extreme value of $750μ\mathrm{m}$ was tested. Interplay doses were computed by combining scanned-beam delivery with patient-specific respiratory motion. Four scenarios were studied: static, static with modulation, interplay, and interplay with modulation. Metrics included $D95\%$, $V95\%$, homogeneity index (HI), lung $V16\mathrm{Gy}$, and heart $V20\mathrm{Gy}$. Interplay reduced target coverage by $5.2 \pm 1.5$ pp ($D95\%$), $12.1 \pm 5.9$ pp ($V95\%$), and $8.3 \pm 2.4$ pp (HI). Extreme $P_{\mathrm{mod}}$ alone caused small degradations. When combined with interplay, it partially compensated the loss. This effect decreased with 4D optimization. Fractionation mitigated interplay, leaving lung modulation as the main residual effect.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2026

Hybrid Active-Passive Galactic Cosmic Ray Simulator: experimental implementation and microdosimetric characterization

Space radiation is one of the major obstacles to space exploration. If not mitigated, radiation can interact both with biological and electronic systems, inducing damage and posing significant risk to space missions. Countermeasures can only be studied effectively with ground-based accelerators that act as a proxy for space radiation. Following an in-silico design and optimization process we have developed a galactic cosmic ray (GCR) simulator using a hybrid active-passive methodology. In this approach, the primary beam energy is actively switched and the beam interacts with specifically designed passive modulators. In this paper, we present the implementation of such a GCR simulator and its experimental microdosimetric characterization. Measuring the GCR field is of paramount importance, both before providing it to the user as a validated radiation field and for achieving the best possible radiation description. The issue is addressed in this paper by using a tissue equivalent proportional counter to measure radiation quality and by comparing experimental measurements with Monte Carlo simulations. In conclusion, we will demonstrate the GCR simulator's capability to reproduce a GCR field.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2026

Hybrid Active-Passive Galactic Cosmic Ray Simulator: in-silico design and optimization

High-energy heavy-ion particle accelerators have long served as proxies for the harsh space radiation environment, enabling both fundamental life-science research and applied testing of flight hardware. Traditionally, monoenergetic high-energy heavy-ion beams have been employed for practicality, providing valuable datasets that underpin radiation risk and predictive computational models. However, such beams cannot fully reproduce the mixed-field nature of space radiation, motivating the development of realistic analogs for improved risk assessment and countermeasure evaluation in preparation for future deep-space missions to Moon or Mars. Spearheaded by developments at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory, the GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), has established advanced space radiation simulation capabilities in Europe. Here, we present the design, optimization, and in-silico benchmarking of GSI's hybrid active-passive Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) simulator, together with a computationally optimized phase-space particle source for Geant4, which is available to external users for their own simulation studies and experimental planning.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2026

An AI dose engine for fast carbon ion treatment planning

Monte Carlo (MC) simulations provide gold-standard accuracy for carbon ion therapy dose calculations but are computationally intensive. Analytical pencil beam algorithms offer speed but reduced accuracy in heterogeneous tissues. We developed the first AI-based dose engine capable of predicting absorbed dose, the alpha and beta parameters for relative biological effectiveness (RBE)- weighted optimisation in carbon ion therapy, delivering MC-level accuracy with drastically reduced computation time. We extended the transformer-based DoTA model to predict absorbed dose (C-DoTA-d), alpha (C-DoTA-alpha), and beta (C-DoTA-beta), introducing a cross-attention mechanism for alpha and beta to combine dose and energy inputs. The training dataset consisted of ~70,000 pencil beams from 187 head-and-neck patients, with ground-truth values obtained using the GPU-accelerated MC toolkit FRED. Performance was evaluated on an independent test set using gamma pass rate (1%/1 mm), depth-dose, and isodose contour Dice coefficients. MC dropout-based uncertainty analysis was performed. Median gamma pass rates exceeded 98% for all predictions (99.76% for dose, 99.14% for alpha, and 98.74% for beta), with minima above 85% in the most heterogeneous anatomies. The Dice coefficient was 0.95 for 1% isodose contours, with slightly reduced agreement in high-gradient regions. Compared to MC FRED, inference was over 400x faster (0.032 s vs. 14 s per pencil beam) while maintaining accuracy. Uncertainty analysis showed high stability, with mean standard deviations below 0.5% for all models. C-DoTA achieves MC-quality predictions of absorbed dose and RBE model parameters in ~30 milliseconds per beam. Its speed and accuracy support online adaptive planning, paving the way for more effective carbon ion therapy workflows. Future work will expand to additional anatomical sites, beam geometries, and clinical beamlines.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2025

Back with Weight: Revisiting Very Heavy Ions for Precision Radiotherapy

Accelerated charged particles offer significant physical advantages over X-rays in radiotherapy. In addition to their superior depth-dose distribution, heavy ions provide notable biological benefits compared to protons. Specifically, at therapeutic energies, very heavy ions are expected to exhibit high relative biological effectiveness and a low oxygen enhancement ratio, making them potentially ideal for treating radioresistant tumors. Over fifty years ago, the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory started a clinical trial to treat cancer patients with particles ranging from helium to argon. However, treatments with ions of atomic number greater than 10 proved highly toxic to normal tissue. Most patients were ultimately treated with helium ions, whose biological effects closely resemble those of protons. In recent years, novel strategies have emerged that can reduce normal tissue toxicity in radiotherapy while preserving tumor control. These advancements open the possibility of revisiting the clinical use of heavier ions. In this paper, we propose that neon ions may serve as an effective modality for treating resistant, hypoxic tumors. Their associated toxicity may be mitigated by employing approaches such as ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) or spatially fractionated radiotherapy. Current plans and prospects for the clinical application of neon ions will be discussed.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2025

First image-guided treatment of a mouse tumor with radioactive ion beams

Radioactive ion beams (RIB) are a key focus of current research in nuclear physics. Already long ago it was proposed that they could have applications in cancer therapy. In fact, while charged particle therapy is potentially the most effective radiotherapy technique available, it is highly susceptible to uncertainties in the beam range. RIB are well-suited for image-guided particle therapy, as isotopes that undergo \b{eta}+-decay can be precisely visualized using positron emission tomography (PET), enabling accurate real-time monitoring of the beam range. We successfully treated a mouse osteosarcoma using a radioactive 11C-ion beam. The tumor was located in the neck, in close proximity to the spinal cord, increasing the risk of radiation-induced myelopathy from even slight variations in the beam range caused by anatomical changes or incorrect calibration of the planning CT. We managed to completely control the tumor with the highest dose while minimizing toxicity. Low-grade neurological side effects were correlated to the positron activity measured in the spine. The biological washout of the activity from the tumor volume was dependent on the dose, indicating a potential component of vascular damage at high doses. This experiment marks the first instance of tumor treatment using RIB and paves the way for future clinical applications.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2022

Range margin reduction in carbon ion therapy: potential benefits of using radioactive ion beams

Radiotherapy with heavy ions, in particular, 12C beams, is one of the most advanced forms of cancer treatment. Sharp dose gradients and high biological effectiveness in the target region make them an ideal tool to treat deep-seated and radioresistant tumors, however, at the same time, sensitive to small errors in the range prediction. Safety margins are added to the tumor volume to mitigate these uncertainties and ensure its uniform coverage, but during the irradiation they lead to unavoidable damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. To fully exploit the benefits of a sharp Bragg peak, a large effort is put into establishing precise range verification methods for the so-called image-guided radiotherapy. Despite positron emission tomography being widely in use for this purpose in 12C ion therapy, the low count rates, biological washout, and broad shape of the activity distribution still limit its precision to a few millimeters. Instead, radioactive beams used directly for treatment would yield an improved signal and a closer match with the dose fall-off, potentially enabling precise in vivo beam range monitoring. We have performed a treatment planning study to estimate the possible impact of the reduced range uncertainties, enabled by radioactive 11C beams treatments, on sparing critical organs in the tumor proximity. We demonstrate that (i) annihilation maps for 11C ions can in principle reflect even millimeter shifts in dose distributions in the patient, (ii) outcomes of treatment planning with 11C beams are significantly improved in terms of meeting the constraints for the organs at risk compared to 12C plans, and (iii) less severe toxicities for serial and parallel critical organs can be expected following 11C treatment with reduced range uncertainties, compared to 12C treatments.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2021

May oxygen depletion explain the FLASH effect? A chemical track structure analysis

Background and purpose: Recent observations in animal models show that ultra-high dose rate ("FLASH") radiation treatment significantly reduces normal tissue toxicity maintaining an equivalent tumor control. The dependence of this "FLASH" effect on target oxygenation has led to the assumption that oxygen "depletion" could be its major driving force. Materials and Methods: In a bottom-up approach starting from the chemical track evolution of 1 MeV electrons in oxygenated water simulated with the TRAX-CHEM Monte Carlo code, we determine the oxygen consumption and radiolytic reactive oxygen species production following a short radiation pulse. Based on these values, the effective dose weighted by oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) or the in vitro cell survival under dynamic oxygen pressure is calculated and compared to that of conventional exposures, at constant OER. Results: We find an excellent agreement of our Monte Carlo predictions with the experimental value for radiolytic oxygen removal from oxygenated water. However, the application of the present model to published radiobiological experiment conditions shows that oxygen depletion can only have a negligible impact on radiosensitivity through oxygen enhancement, especially at typical experimental oxygenations where a FLASH effect has been observed. Conclusion: We show that the magnitude and dependence of the "oxygen depletion" hypothesis are not consistent with the observed biological effects of FLASH irradiation. While oxygenation plays an undoubted role in mediating the FLASH effect, we conclude that state-of-the-art radiation chemistry models do not support oxygen depletion and radiation-induced transient hypoxia as the main mechanism.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2021

Monte Carlo simulation of SARS-CoV-2 radiation-induced inactivation for vaccine development

Immunization with an inactivated virus is one of the strategies currently being tested towards developing a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. One of the methods used to inactivate viruses is exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation to damage their nucleic acids. Although gamma-rays effectively induce lesions in the RNA, envelope proteins are also highly damaged in the process. This in turn may alter their antigenic properties, affecting their capacity to induce an adaptive immune response able to confer effective protection. Here, we modelled the impact of sparsely and densely ionizing radiation on SARS-CoV-2 using the Monte Carlo toolkit Geant4-DNA. With a realistic 3D target virus model, we calculated the expected number of lesions in the spike and membrane proteins, as well as in the viral RNA. We show that gamma-rays produce significant spike protein damage, but densely ionizing charged particles induce less membrane damage for the same level of RNA lesions, because a single ion traversal through the nuclear envelope is sufficient to inactivate the virus. We propose that accelerated charged particles produce inactivated viruses with little structural damage to envelope proteins, thereby representing a new and effective tool for developing vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and other enveloped viruses.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2020

The FragmentatiOn Of Target Experiment (FOOT) and its DAQ system

The FragmentatiOn Of Target (FOOT) experiment aims to provide precise nuclear cross-section measurements for two different fields: hadrontherapy and radio-protection in space. The main reason is the important role the nuclear fragmentation process plays in both fields, where the health risks caused by radiation are very similar and mainly attributable to the fragmentation process. The FOOT experiment has been developed in such a way that the experimental setup is easily movable and fits the space limitations of the experimental and treatment rooms available in hadrontherapy treatment centers, where most of the data takings are carried out. The Trigger and Data Acquisition system needs to follow the same criteria and it should work in different laboratories and in different conditions. It has been designed to acquire the largest sample size with high accuracy in a controlled and online-monitored environment. The data collected are processed in real-time for quality assessment and are available to the DAQ crew and detector experts during data taking.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Investigations on physical and biological range uncertainties in Krakow proton beam therapy centre

Physical and biological range uncertainties limit the clinical potential of Proton Beam Therapy (PBT). In this proceedings, we report on two research projects, which we are conducting in parallel and which both tackle the problem of range uncertainties. One aims at developing software tools and the other at developing detector instrumentation. Regarding the first, we report on our development and pre-clinical application of a GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo (MC) simulation toolkit Fred. Concerning the letter, we report on our investigations of plastic scintillator based PET detectors for particle therapy delivery monitoring. We study the feasibility of Jagiellonian-PET detector technology for proton beam therapy range monitoring by means of MC simulations of the $β^+$ activity induced in a phantom by proton beams and present preliminary results of PET image reconstruction. Using a GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo simulation toolkit Fred and plastic scintillator based PET detectors we aim to improve patient treatment quality with protons.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2018

IUPAP Report 41 Introduction

IUPAP Report 41 is a document that gives summary information about the major nuclear physics facilities around the world. It is updated approximately every five years by Working Group 9 of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. The introduction to the report gives an overview of the field of nuclear physics and outlines the major questions facing the field. This most recent version of Report 41 has been updated to reflect the state of the field in 2018. The full report can be found at http://www.triumf.info/hosted/iupap/icnp/report41.html

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

Total and Partial Fragmentation Cross-Section of 500 MeV/nucleon Carbon Ions on Different Target Materials

By using an experimental setup based on thin and thick double-sided microstrip silicon detectors, it has been possible to identify the fragmentation products due to the interaction of very high energy primary ions on different targets. Here we report total and partial cross-sections measured at GSI (Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung), Darmstadt, for 500 MeV/n energy $^{12}C$ beam incident on water (in flasks), polyethylene, lucite, silicon carbide, graphite, aluminium, copper, iron, tin, tantalum and lead targets. The results are compared to the predictions of GEANT4 (v4.9.4) and FLUKA (v11.2) Monte Carlo simulation programs.

physics.ins-det↗