Professor Steve Jiang, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies at Moore’s Cancer Center. Courtesy of NVIDIA

San Diego, California, USA - April 13, 2012

By Ken Brown, PR Manager for NVIDIA

Researchers at the University of California in San Diego are using GPUs as part of an effort to save the lives of people diagnosed with cancer, the second-leading cause of death in the U.S.

The Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies at Moore’s Cancer Center, the University of California San Diego. Courtesy of NVIDIA

We visited Moore’s Cancer Center at UCSD last month to find out what the research team is doing.

The Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies at Moore’s Cancer Center, the University of California San Diego. Courtesy of NVIDIA

Leading the research is Professor Steve Jiang, executive director of the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies at Moore’s Cancer Center.

Dr. Arno Mundt, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine at UCSD. Courtesy of NVIDIA

He said about two-thirds of cancer patients in the U.S. are treated with radiotherapy, which has proven effective for many cancer types.

Radiotherapy delivers a lethal dose of radiation to the tumor to kill cancerous cells.

Jiang has developed a new approach called online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) that replaces the static process with a dynamic one. Courtesy of NVIDIA

The treatment is complex and specific to each patient.

The radiation beam parameters have to be tailored to each patient’s case through a process called treatment planning.

Jiang has developed a new approach called online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) that replaces the static process with a dynamic one. Courtesy of NVIDIA

Treatment plans are generated based on a snapshot of the patient’s anatomy prior to treatment, and then delivered over a number of weeks.

New NVIDIA GPU Courtesy of NVIDIA

Unfortunately, the treatment method can’t keep up with the patient’s anatomy, which can vary from day to day due to changes in the tumor’s size and position.

Professor Steve Jiang, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies at Moore’s Cancer Center. Jiang has developed a new approach called online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) that replaces the static process with a dynamic one. Courtesy of NVIDIA

This anatomical variation compromises the success of the treatment.

Professor Steve Jiang, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies at Moore’s Cancer Center. Jiang has developed a new approach called online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) that replaces the static process with a dynamic one. Courtesy of NVIDIA

Jiang has developed a new approach called online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) that replaces the static process with a dynamic one.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego are testing a new GPU-accelerated technique to improve the effectiveness of radiation treatment. Courtesy of NVIDIA

Using GPUs, the medical team can process the pictures and develop a new treatment plan in a few minutes.

The new technique can significantly reduce radiation administered to healthy tissue, while focusing more radiation on the tumor itself.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego are testing a new GPU-accelerated technique to improve the effectiveness of radiation treatment. Courtesy of NVIDIA

Jiang says, “Over the past few years, we have developed a series of novel GPU computational tools to achieve online re-planning with both accuracy and real-time efficiency. Our work will facilitate the clinical realization of online ART, which represents a quantum leap forward in cancer radiotherapy.”

Researchers at the University of California San Diego are testing a new GPU-accelerated technique to improve the effectiveness of radiation treatment. Courtesy of NVIDIA

Jiang’s technique will enter clinical trials this summer at Moore’s Cancer Center.

His colleague, Dr. Arno Mundt, professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine at UCSD, says the outcome of these trials could have a profound impact on cancer treatment in the U.S. and, potentially, worldwide.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego are testing a new GPU-accelerated technique to improve the effectiveness of radiation treatment. Courtesy of NVIDIA

We wish Jiang and his team all the best in their research.

Ken Brown
PR Manager for NVIDIA


Source: NVIDIA

http://nvidianews.nvidia.com/  


Video
UCSD Researchers Test NVIDIA GPU-Accelerated Cancer Treatment

http://blogs.nvidia.com/?p=11416  


About NVIDIA


NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) awakened the world to computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999.

Today, its processors power a broad range of products from smart phones to supercomputers.

NVIDIA's mobile processors are used in cell phones, tablets and auto infotainment systems.
PC gamers rely on GPUs to enjoy spectacularly immersive worlds.

Professionals use them to create visual effects in movies and design everything from golf clubs to jumbo jets.
And researchers utilize GPUs to advance the frontiers of science with high-performance computing.

NVIDIA’s Santa Clara headquarters. Courtesy of NVIDIA

The company holds more than 2,100 patents worldwide, including ones covering ideas essential to modern computing.

For more information, see www.nvidia.com  


Source: NVIDIA

http://www.nvidia.com/object/newsroom.html  



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