Department Molecular Genetics
Principal investigator Jeroen Essers
E-mail address j.essers@erasmusmc.nl
Feasibility of animal mouse models for testing of novel proton therapy delivery technique
Supervisor: Kelvin Ng Wei Siang, k.ngweisiang@erasmusmc.nl
Patients treated with radiotherapy for squamous cell anal and vulva carcinoma usually suffers from grade 3 or higher acute radiation dermatitis and gastrointestinal toxicity. A possible way to mitigate these effects could lie in the application of particle micro beamlets. To investigate the effects from the technique, animal studies could be carried out.
We propose a study to investigate the feasibility of animal mouse models for quality assurance and testing of the novel proton therapy delivery technique on patients with squamous cell anal and vulva carcinoma. This project will explore the induction of excess skin flaps with sweat glands and tumor genesis in mice by genetic or surgical modifications through a literature study. The student shall look into equivalent mouse tumor models that resembles anal and vulva cancer in humans. Additionally, the student makes recommendations on the experimental setup for dosimetric verification of a novel delivery technique of proton beams using equivalent animal phantom models, to assess quality assurance and safety of the technique. In this multidisciplinary project, you will work closely with a qualified medical physicist expert (dr. ir. Kelvin Ng Wei Siang) and radiobiologist expert (dr. Jeroen Essers).
Techniques
- Setting up experimental design with phantoms
- Data extraction
- Treatment planning
- Data analysis
Further reading
Gillespie, M.A., et al. (2021). Oncology Reviews, 15(1), 511. DOI: 10.4081/oncol.2021.511.