Status report of the NAC particle therapy programme

The 200 MeV cyclotron facility at the National Accelerator Centre has been operational since 1987. Between September 1988 and December 1997 a total of 973 patients (26,916 fields) had been treated on the 66 MeV p+Be isocentri c neutron therapy system. Patients are currently being treated according to several protocols, including tumors of the head and neck, salivary gland a nd breast and soft tissue sarcomas, uterine sarcomas and paranasal sinuses. A multiblade post-collimator trimmer has recently being installed. This de vice provides improved neutron beam shaping capability. Between September 1 993 and December 1997 a total of 243 patients (4008 fields) had been treate d (mainly intracranial stereotactic irradiations) on the fixed horizontal 2 00 MeV proton therapy facility. The facility incorporates an innovative aut omatic patient positioning system. Two new fixed beam lines for proton ther apy are presently being designed (horizontal and 30 degrees to the vertical ) for an existing unused treatment vault. Spot scanning systems will be dev eloped for both beam lines.