Prof. Pawel Olko Pawel OLKO (57), graduated in physics from AGH University of Science in Technology, Krakow, Ph.D. in physics from IFJ PAN (1990), habilitation in physics in (2003), state professorship title (2011), scientific interest: microdosimetry, dosimetry, radiobiological modelling, solid state detectors, radiation protection, proton radiotherapy, medical physics, more than 140 publications in international scientific journals, scientific director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland (since 2005); director of the Bronowice Cyclotron Centre (since 2012), manager of proton therapy projects in Kraków; member of the Article 31 Group of Experts, EC, Luxemburg (since 2005), chairmen of the International Solid State Dosimetry Organization (2004-2007), chairmen of the Commission for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, Polish Atomic Agency (2007-2011), EURADOS council Member (since 2002), expert of IAEA (1998-2001)
The basic factor which determines the success of radiotherapy is delivering the highest possible dose of ionizing radiation to the tumor volume while sparing the neighboring critical organs and healthy tissues. Protons with energies from about 60 MeV to 250 MeV are useful for cancer treatment because of the phenomenon of the Bragg peak i.e. increasing of energy deposition the at the end of protons path in tissue and the well defined range. Therefore, the unwanted doses to healthy organs, particularly the entrance dose, are minimal as compared to MV X-rays used in conventional radiotherapy. This is of particular importance to pediatric patients in whom the probability of later radiation-induced cancer should be minimized.
Since February 2011 proton patients suffering from eye melanoma are irradiated at IFJ PAN with 60 MeV proton beam using home-developed AIC-144 cyclotron. Physicists collaborate with physicians from the Clinic of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Oncology Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian University headed by prof. Bożena Romanowska-Dixon. The AIC-144 isochronous cyclotron was designed at IFJ PAN at the end of 80’s and adapted to proton radiotherapy between 2008 and 2010. The beam delivery and the treatment room were also developed by IFJ PAN engineers, technicians and software developers. In December 2012 a new 230 MeV Proteus C-235 proton cyclotron with a horizontal experimental beam for research and for the eye line was put in operation. The energy selector allows to use the proton beam in energy range from 70 MeV to 230 MeV. Two sophisticated 0-360º proton gantries with the 2.7 mm and 4 mm Pencil Scanning Beam, Patient Positioning System with robotic arm, remote positioning will be fully operational in September 2015. The new National Centre of Hadron Radiotherapy – Bronowice Cyclotron Centre will be able to treat 100 eye cancer patients and 500-700 cancer patients at the gantries. The proton beam in experimental hall fully booked for research in nuclear physics, radiobiology, dosimetry and medical physics.