Proton and heavy ion therapy technology refers to the killing of cancer cells through the use of proton or heavy ion rays and is a type of radiation therapy. In this case, proton therapy destroys the single strand of DNA in cancer cells, while heavy ion therapy destroys the double strand of DNA in cancer cells.
The acceleration of charged particles, such as protons and heavy ions, to speeds of 210,000 kilometers per second is possible through synchrotrons. At this point, through the guidance of radiation, targeted killing of tumor cells can be achieved. Since the radiation passes through the human body at a faster speed, it does not lose too much energy before reaching the tumor cells, and it can achieve a large amount of energy release in the tumor foci to achieve the purpose of killing cancer cells. At the same time, this method has less damage to normal cells of the human body due to the small amount of energy released during the process of passing through the body.
In the 1830s, an American scientist named Ernest Lawrence developed the cyclotron, which was a prerequisite for the emergence of proton heavy ion therapy. Seven years later, another U.S. scientist named Robert Wilson proposed that high-energy particle beams could be used to treat cancer, at which time the concept of proton heavy ion began to appear in people's minds. 1954, U.S. researchers began to try to use proton rays to treat cancer, and at this point, proton heavy ion therapy formally appeared on the stage of cancer treatment.
In 1990, the U.S. Roma Linda first established a proton therapy center, since then, Japan, Germany and other countries have also begun to proton and heavy ion therapy technology references. Until today, Japan has become the world's more advanced and more specialized equipment for proton and heavy ion therapy. Unfortunately, the introduction of proton and heavy ion in China is relatively small, and only a few hospitals can perform proton and heavy ion therapy.