Multidisciplinary R&D To Upgrade BSD Hyperthermia Treatment Planning System And Improve Clinical Application

Hyperthermia is the 4th cancer treatment modality after surgery, radiotherapy and cancer-drug therapy. Cancer cells are sensitive to temperature, almost progressively died at Celsius 40~43 degrees. The mechanism of cell death may involve heating-induced apoptosis, inhibiting DNA repair, secreting heat-shock protein, trafficking lymphocytes, increasing blood flow and perfusion, and modulating body immune system. Thereafter, hyperthermia adjunctive to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy is an emerging cancer treatment trend. The BSD hyperthermia facility got USA and Taiwan FDA approval, and schedules on clinical service at our cancer center in this April. However, BSD treatment planning system has not been perfected for modern precision medicine requirement. Furthermore, the software development is still needed. For example, image fusion between CT scan and SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) map is necessary for tumor localization accuracy, and SAR transferring to thermal dose and thermography displaying are clinical demands. This study is a 2-year integrated program that combines multidisciplinary cooperation in clinical oncology, medical image, heat transfer and fluid mechanics… etc. The 1st subprogram is “CT Image-Assisted Cancer Hyperthermia Planning System Improves Tumor Localization Accuracy” which takes one year to develop CT scan fusion SAR imaging technology. The 2nd subprogram “Development of BSD Treatment Planning System” is a two-years program which uses bioheat equation to calculate thermal dose and temperature distribution in tumor and adjacent organs and build SAR images with higher precision by applying the organ distribution information acquired from CT scan. If this research is successful, we could sell the patent right to BSD Company or share the profit.