Cancer is the number 2 killer in the United States, projected to overtake heart disease by 2030. Carbon ion radiotherapy, or CIRT, is the latest radiotherapy modality, and CIRT is seeing increasing use in cancer treatment largely because it is more lethal to tumor cells.
On Dec. 14, Jac Nickoloff, head of the Colorado State University Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, will give a Colloquium talk titled “Carbon Ion Radiotherapy: Bridging the Gap from Physics and Radiobiology to Accessible Clinical Care.”
Today there are nine CIRT facilities in operation in the world. Compared to X-ray and proton beam treatment, CIRT provides superior outcomes for the most challenging tumors, such as those near sensitive structures. There are outstanding opportunities to build on CIRT successes, including the development of additional ion species, and in combination with chemo- or immunotherapeutics. How can scientists, clinicians and society promote research and further development of these life-saving therapies?
Come to the Colloquium on Dec. 14 to find out. Read the abstract.
Nickoloff, associate editor of Genetics, has served as director of the cancer biology program of the University of New Mexico Cancer Center, among other leadership positions. His research focuses on biochemistry, molecular genetics and cancer cell biology.
He is currently leading efforts to establish a CIRT research and treatment center in Colorado, with a focus on spontaneous cancer in companion animals as an effective means to translate basic research to human clinical practice, as well as to expand patient access to advanced cancer therapy.
Sandra Biedron is a Fermilab visiting scientist and an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Colorado State University.