Programme

Overview: In particle therapy, accurately determining where particles stop in the patient is crucial to ensure safer and more precise treatments. Over the past decade, various technological solutions have been proposed, but no industrial system for large-scale in vivo treatment verification is currently available. Prof. Katia Parodi will present an overview of these solutions, while Prof. Christian Richter will discuss existing clinical data, emphasizing the real-world impact and importance of integrating verification into clinical workflows. Prof. Thomas Bortfeld will highlight how verification could enable innovative treatment techniques. Dr. Julien Smeets will conclude by addressing the technical and industrial challenges of integrating these systems into complex and evolving particle therapy platforms, including considerations for proton arc therapy and FLASH.

Overview: Proffered Papers are presented in one of the sessions scheduled in the main session halls. Each author will present orally for 7 minutes, followed by 3 minutes for discussion. Sessions will be recorded and available on-demand.

Overview: Online adaptive radiotherapy (OART) presents an opportunity to account for changes in the patient's anatomy and physiology over the course of treatment, potentially allowing us to target disease more accurately. However, OART also requires a re-evaluation of many aspects of the treatment process, in particular for verification and quality assurance of the online adaptive workflow. In this session, three expert physicists present an overview of the online adaptive workflow and the challenges for QA arising from the transition to OART, the potential solutions to these challenges, and the new risks and the necessary changes associated with plan-specific QA.

Overview: Proffered Papers are presented in one of the sessions scheduled in the main session halls. Each author will present orally for 7 minutes, followed by 3 minutes for discussion. Sessions will be recorded and available on-demand.

Overview: This session explores innovative approaches to clinical research in radiation oncology, challenging traditional methodologies and highlighting the need for adaptability in a rapidly evolving field. The first talk discusses the limitations of RCTs, including their high costs, long timelines, and challenges in keeping pace with technological advancements. The second talk examines the role of real-world evidence, defining its scope, regulatory perspectives, and impact on clinical decision-making. The third talk explores pragmatic trials as a bridge between efficacy and real-world effectiveness, addressing their design and implementation. Finally, the session covers the Trials Within Cohort (TwiCs) approach, demonstrating how cohort-based randomised trials can offer ethical and practical advantages. Together, these talks offer a roadmap for modernizing clinical research in radiation oncology.

Overview: Mini-Orals are presented at one of the sessions scheduled in the two mini-oral theatres. Each author will present a 4-slide PowerPoint orally for 4 minutes, followed by 3 minutes for discussion. Sessions will be recorded and made available via the online platform and mobile app.