We are excited to share the collaboration between Kalpa and Fondazione CNAO – the National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy in Pavia, working together to fight cancer through an advanced form of radiotherapy: hadron therapy.
✨ Kalpa’s contribution
Our colleagues Andrea and Luca took part in the design of the safety system required for the commissioning of a new proton synchrotron and for the subsequent monitoring and control of the radiation emitted during treatment. Thanks to this system, any detected anomaly immediately triggers an alarm, interrupting the irradiation and protecting medical staff from radiation exposure.
🔬 What is hadron therapy?
It is an advanced form of radiotherapy designed to treat tumors with extreme precision. Using a synchrotron—an advanced particle accelerator—protons or carbon ions (depending on the pathology) are accelerated and directed at the tumor mass, targeting it with sub-millimeter accuracy.
Unlike traditional radiotherapy, particle beams precisely hit the tumor, acting directly on the lesion while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The major advantage is that tissues crossed by the particles remain unharmed, drastically reducing the side effects usually associated with conventional radiotherapy. To ensure maximum accuracy, a 3D mapping process defines the exact size and position of the tumor mass, while an algorithm even synchronizes the patient’s breathing with the beam—compensating for the subtle movements caused by respiration.
This makes hadron therapy a truly cutting-edge treatment option, as it preserves healthy tissues and significantly improves the patient’s quality of life.
Take a look below at CNAO’s synchrotron ⬇️
