UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT

Dosimetric effects of seed perturbation in prostate brachytherapy

MENTOR: Prof. Gabor Fichtinger, gabor@cs.queensu.ca

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE

The proposed research program is driven by prostate cancer therapy, a worldwide health problem. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer specific to men, with 250,000 new cases annually in North America alone. Brachytherapy (BT), which entails placing radioactive sources into the cancer through needles, is a highly successful treatment for many cancers, including that of the prostate. Prostate BT entails permanent implantation of small radioactive sources (the size of a rice grain, called seeds) into the prostate, in a complex pattern, through the perineal portal, via needles, under transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) surveillance. Needles are inserted manually through guide holes arranged in a rectilinear grid. BT is performed in an outpatient setting, under lumbar or full anesthesia, with a procedure time of about 2 hours. Due to its convenience and excellent cancer control (over 90% disease free survival over 5 years) has become I increasingly popular, there are over 100,000 BT-s a year in North America and Europe combined. Despite excellent outcomes documented by leading specialists, in community practice many BT implants fail due to incorrect position of the seeds relative to the cancer and healthy nearby organs. In insufficient dose to the cancer may result in failure to control the cancer. Inadvertent radiation of the adjacent rectum, urethra and bladder may lead to rectal ulceration, painful urination and sexual dysfunction. Accurate seed placement is a prerequisite for successful and safe brachytherapy. Seeds are known to migrate and rotate in the prostate due to edema and muscular motion, causing the dose distribution to deform.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

You will develop methods and software for the simulation and analysis of the dosimetric effects seed migration and perturbation.

SKILLS DEVELOPED
This project concentrates on computing and takes you to a higher level of usage of some key concepts and techniques learned in CISC-330. The project is conducted in the framework of a larger program, including industrial partners (Acoustic MedSystems and Precision Therapeutics) and international collaborators (Johns Hopkins University and UBC)

BACKGROUND REQUIRED

Programming in MATLAB

Preferred: Having taken CISC-330 (Computer Integrated Surgery)