1. Centro di AdroTerapia e Applicazioni Nucleari Avanzate Project for the development of a protontherapy facility Collaboration between INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (Catania), University of Catania and CSFNSM of Catania Based on the use of the already working INFN-LNS Superconducting Cyclotron SICILY AND PARTICULARLY CATANIA IS IN A CENTRAL GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA AND THEN CATANA SHOULD COLLECT PATIENTS COMING FROM MEDITERRANEAN EUROPEAN AND EXTRA-EUROPEAN COUNTRIES Treatment Procedure üPatient positioning on the computer controlled chair (6 independent movements) Patient immobilization by face mask and bite block Metallic clips surgically inserted in the eyes for positioning control and beam alignment by two orthogonal X-Rays tubes Eye control movement during irradiation by means of video camera Control of the beam features and total dose Proton irradiation Total irradiation time: 30 - 60 sec Dose fraction: 12 - 15 Gy Fractions number: 4, every 24 h A treatment plan is made by the clinical physicist using the 3D treatment planning package EYEPLAN. The result of the plan will specify: The fixation light position The design of the collimator The design of the range modulator The range shifter position The set of predicted clip pictures for treatment According to the results of the simulation, the range modulator and individual patient collimator are realized. Each treatment plan is calibrated individually by the clinical physicist using ionization chamber placed at the center of the treatment volume. The isodose curves are also calculated Medical Applications Choroidal Melanoma 85 - 90 % successfully treating with proton beams About 300 new cases for year in Italy In the world 5000 patients have been already treated with proton beams Age related subfoveal macular degenerations with subretinal neovascular membrane This is the main cause of third age blindness in EC countries It is a social disease for EC Use Of 70 MeV Proton Beam For Medical Applications At INFN-LNS: CATANA Project M.G. Sabini a,f, G.A.P. Cirrone a,f, L. Barone Tonghi a, A. Bartolotta e, M. Brai e, G.Cuttone a, S. Lo Nigro d,f, F. Marano b, G.A. Nicoletti b, G. Privitera c, L. Raffaele a,c, A. Reibaldi b, A. Rovelli a,V. Salamone c, G. Teri e a) INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Catania b) Institute of Ophtalmology -University of Catania c) Institute of Radiology - University of Catania d) Physics Department - University of Catania e) Istituto di Biocomunicazioni - University of Palermo f) Centro Siciliano di Fisica Nucleare e Struttura della Materia, Catania Characteristics of proton beams EYEPLAN Dosimetry Intercomparison at Clatterbridge Center for Oncology Experimental Set-up Measurements in air in unmodulated proton beam Measurements in a modulated proton beam at 4 mm in PMMA The results of the intercomparison (D W ) LNS PTW Markus/CCO FAR WEST IC-18 +0.9% LNS EXRADIN T1/CCO FAR WEST IC-18 -1.2% Dose Percentage differences in unmodulated proton beam LNS PTW Markus/CCO FAR WEST IC-18 +0.2% LNS EXRADIN T1/CCO FAR WEST IC-18 -1.4% Dose Percentage differences in a modulated proton beam INFN - LNS ProtonTherapy Room Main ionization chambers utilized in the dosimetry of CATANA project STATUS AND FUTURE PLANS Chair and related devices will be installed in march 2000 The treatment line in air has been designed and will be ready in November 99 The absolute and relative dosimetry has been studied and main choices have been done (ionization chambers, diodes, radiographic films, TLD and Alanina). In Feb-Mar 00 the dosimetric characterization of the CS proton beam will be carried out. The treatment planning software (EYEPLAN) is already installed at LNS The authorization procedure has been already started WE EXPECT THE FIRST PATIENT TREATMENT IN SPRING 2000