HICAT - the German hospital-based light ion cancer therapy project

Starting in 1997 about 170 patients have been successfully treated by means of the intensity controlled rasterscan-method within the GSI experimental cancer treatment program. The developments and experiences of this program accompanied by intensive discussions with the medical community led to a proposal for a hospital based light ion accelerator facility for the clinic in Heidelberg, capable to treat about 1000 patients per year. Major aspects of the design are influenced. from the experiences of the GSI cancer treatment program; the requirements of this facility, however, exceed in many fields those of this pilot project. The main characteristics of this facility are the application of the rasterscan method with active intensity, energy-, and beamsize- variation both at two treatment places after horizontal beam lines and in combination with the usage of an isocentric light ion gantry. The accelerator is designed to accelerate low LET ions (p, He) and high LET ions (C, O) to cover the specific medical requirements. The project has been approved and contracts with industrial firms are in preparation; first patient treatments at this new facility are foreseen in 2006.