European Particle Therapy Network (EPTN)

The European Particle Therapy Network (EPTN) became a task force of ESTRO in 2017. It was established in 2015 in response to the anticipated increase in the number of particle therapy centres in Europe. In addition, the need to cooperate among centres and integrate particles (i.e. protons and carbons) in the framework of clinical research networks was identified as being of paramount importance. ESTRO, at the time of initiation of the network, was asked to collaborate with EPTN and agreed to facilitate the group.

Particle therapy (PT) is only one part of radiation oncology, and needs to be well aligned with other radiation techniques as well as with general developments in cancer research and patient care. PT offers both new opportunities for providing excellence in cancer care, and for high-quality research within the framework of European  networks.

Organisation

The EPTN is led by three co-chairs and is composed of 8 working packages (WP) with experts of different topics to further elaborate the particle European discussions.
The EPTN meets once a year through the EPTN annual meeting.

The EPTN co-chairs are:

  • Cai Grau (Aarhus, DK) 
  • Damien Weber (Villigen, CH) 
  • Dietmar Georg (Vienna, AT)

The EPTN has its own internal standard operating procedure (SOP), covering its policies, aims, and organisation of the network.
Use this link to consult the EPTN SOP.


Save the Date: 21–22 October 2025, Prague, Czech Republic!


The 11th European Particle Therapy Network (EPTN) Annual Meeting will take place on 22nd October 2025 in Prague!

Additionally, three EPTN Workshops on key topics will be held on 21st October 2025 at a central location in Prague.

Stay tuned for further details, which will be published soon on this webpage.

We invite you to save the date and look forward to welcoming you to Prague!

EPTN Organisers:
Cai Grau (Aarhus, DK), Damien Weber (Villigen, CH), Dietmar Georg (Vienna, AT)

 

Each WP is structured with one or more coordinators and is thematically established to cover key challenges and developments related to the EPTN and its work. Some of the core responsibilities and aims of the WPs consist chiefly of engaging in trials, guidelines, white papers, and surveys, as well as establishing and hosting workshops and courses.
Below, each work package is listed with its own dedicated section, outlining its general organisational structure, as well as any particular developments and news from the work package.

Coordinators:
Hans Langendijk, The Netherlands
Karin Haustermans, Belgium

Coordinators:
Oliver Jäkel, Germany
Sairos Safai, Switzerland
Stefano Lorentini, Italy
 

Mission

This work package is dedicated to dosimetry, instrumentation and quality assurance in radiotherapy with protons and light ions. It addresses the need for methods and harmonization in dose measurement across centers in Europe.
 

Objectives

  • Disseminate and discuss reference dosimetry protocols suitable for particle therapy (e.g. IAEA TRS-398)
  • Facilitate inter-comparison exercises and dosimetry audits
  • Interface with primary standards laboratories (e.g. NPL)
  • Facilitate multi-center QA harmonization (e.g. survey)
  • Share QA procedures, tools, and best practices via surveys, workshops, and online resources.
  • Publish guidelines and recommendations in dosimetry (e.g. beam data collection)

 

News

  • Abstract at PTCOG 63: oral presentation
    Towards a consensus on measurement-less patient specific QA in proton therapy
    M. Vidal, L. Stolarczyk, L. Grevillot, G. Magro, G. Vilches-Freixas, X. Liang, C. Clark, I. Rinaldi, F. Emert, C. Vallhagen Dahlgren, S. Lorentini, O. Jäkel, A. Lomax, C. Richter and S. Safai
  • Publications
    • Peer-reviewed
      - Gomà C, Henkner K, Jäkel O, Lorentini S, Magro G, Mirandola A, Placidi L, Togno M, Vidal M, Vilches-Freixas G, Wulff J, Safai S. ESTRO-EPTN radiation dosimetry guidelines for the acquisition of proton pencil beam modelling data. Phys Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2024 Aug 5;31:100621. doi: 10.1016/j.phro.2024.100621. PMID: 39220113; PMCID: PMC11364130.

 

Recent events

  • 6th Thematic Workshop (online & on-site)Out-of-field dosimetry
    Workshop on Out-of-field Dosimetry in Proton Therapy: Translation to Clinical Practice with a Focus on Pregnant Patients (EPTN WP2/WP4-EURADOS joint workshop)
    Part 1: 21 February 2025 - Online
    Part 2: 10–11 March 2025, Maastricht (NL)

 

Ongoing activities

  • Implementation of IAEA TRS-398 (2024 Edition)
    • Following the publication of the updated IAEA Code of Practice TRS-398, WP2 is leading efforts to interpret and apply the new recommendations in clinical settings.
    • A draft EPTN-WP2 Commentary summarizing clarifications, consensus points, and identified issues has been produced and will be published to this platform.
       
  • Intercomparison of Beam Monitor Calibration
    • A collaborative project aims to compare Gy/MU calibration curves across European centers.
    • The project will continue with standardized testing across multiple centers and the creation of a shared calibration database.
       
  • Development of PSQA Consensus (with WP5)
    • Building on the 2023 ESTRO Physics Workshop, WP2 and WP5 are co-developing a consensus on light ion Patient-Specific Quality Assurance.
    • Focus areas include:
      • Independent dose calculations
      • Log-file based QA
      • Risk analysis (FMEA)
      • External audits/surveys
    • Dedicated subgroups and follow-up meetings are ongoing, with industry interest in software integration for testing. ESTRO-EPTN Guidelines proposal have been accepted by the ESTRO guidelines committee and are being written.
       
  • Translating Out-of-Field Dosimetry to clinical practice for pregnant patients
    • Following the 6th WP2 Thematic Workshop held in March 2025 in Maastricht the organizers are defining follow-up activities based on the workshop’s outcomes.
    • Key areas of focus include:
      • Refining measurement protocols and dosimetric models
      • Drafting recommendations for clinical practice
      • Identifying research needs and standardization opportunities
    • Continued collaboration with EPTN WP4 and EURADOS is planned to expand the impact and reach of these efforts.
       
  • Validation of LET calculations
    • WP2 supports a new endeavor launched in 2022 by DCPT in collaboration with EURADOS WG9 for the evaluation of LET estimation techniques with experimental campaigns.
    • These efforts aim to assess the feasibility of LET reporting for treatment plan validation in clinical proton therapy.
    • Publication: Iván Domingo Muñoz et al 2024 Phys. Med. Biol. 69 135004

 

Past Events and Reports

2024 - Progress report 2024

  • 8th General Meeting (Online, December)
    • Discussion on positioning of PP-ICs according to TRS-398, beam monitor calibration intercomparison, and PSQA guideline development
    • ESTRO-EPTN guideline on acquisition of proton beam data published.
       
  • 5th Thematic Workshop (Online, May) – TRS-398 Implementation
    • Resulted in a draft EPTN-WP2 Commentary on TRS-398

 

2023 - Progress report 2023

  • 7th General Meeting (Online, December)
    • Highlights PSQA Workshop, beam monitor calibration intercomparison and ESTRO/EPTN guideline on beam data collection in development
       
  • 4th Thematic Workshop – Patient-Specific QA (with WP5)
    13–14 October 2023, Torino, Italy (ESTRO Physics Workshop)
    "Towards a consensus on pre-treatment verification in particle therapy"

 

2022 - Progress report 2022

  • 6th General Meeting (Online, December)
    • New beam quality correction factors for ICs, Review of LET campaign, PSQA ESTRO physics workshop planning and update on ESTRO/EPTN guideline on beam data collection.
       
  • 3rd Thematic WorkshopTRS-398 Update
    April 2022, DCPT, Aarhus, Denmark
    • 3-day event: discussions on TRS-398 update draft
       
  • 5th General Workshop (Online, February)
    • Progress updates, planning for Aarhus TRS-398 workshop and proposal for ESTRO/EPTN guideline on beam data collection.
    • Support of LET measurement campaign with DCPT & EURADOS WG9.

 

2021 - Progress report 2021

  • 2nd Thematic Workshop (Online, May) – Ultra-High Dose Rate (FLASH) Dosimetry
    • Covered detectors, beam calibration, and preclinical experimental setups.

 

2020 - Progress report 2020

  • 4th General Workshop (Online, December)
    • Focus on INSPIRE-supported dosimetry projects (NPL), and TRS-398 updates.

 

2019 - Progress report 2019

  • 1st Thematic QA Workshop Quality assurance in proton therapy
    23–24 October 2019, HollandPTC, Delft
    • ​Centers presented QA workflows and challenges, discussion on the survey.
       
  • 3rd General Workshop (Brussels, BE, March)
    • Discussions on QA heterogeneity and absolute dosimetry initiatives.

 

2018 - Progress report 2018

  • 2nd General Workshop (Frankfurt, DE, May)
    • Focus on QA/equipment survey, reference dosimetry, and audits.
    • Preliminary survey results presented at ESTRO 37 (Barcelona, April 2018).

 

2017 - Progress report 2017

  • 1st General Workshop (Brussels, BE, March)
    • Establishment of 6 internal working groups and scope definition


2016 - Progress report 2016

  • Definition of aims and structure.

Coordinators:
Morten Høyer, Denmark
Marco Schwarz, USA
Rita Simoes, UK

Coordinators:
Markus Stock, Austria
Alessandra Bolsi, Switzerland


Aims:

  • Consolidate existing knowledge
    Gather and synthesize information on current clinical experience, guidelines and research related to IGPT to establish a comprehensive understanding of its principles and applications.
  • Identify clinical practice parameters and patterns
    Systematically identify clinical practice parameters and patterns regarding IGPT, aiming to standardise treatment protocols, optimise workflows and provide excellence in patient care across institutions.
  • Develop evidence-based consensus guidelines
    Systematically collect and review available evidence to formulate evidence-based recommendations for the minimum clinical and technical requirements for IGPT in different cancer types, treatment settings and patient populations.
  • Facilitate collaborative research
    Stimulate collaboration among researchers and institutions to conduct high-quality multicentric studies aimed at advancing the understanding and refining the practice of IGPT, with the aim to standardise treatment protocols, optimise workflows and improve treatment outcomes.
  • Promote education and awareness
    Foster education and awareness among all professional sub-disciplines about the appropriate utilisation of IGPT through the organisation of the annual workshop and the dissemination of practice patterns and consensus guidelines.

Organisation:

The “Image Guidance” work package has the following body-site specific sub-working groups (in alphabetical order):

  • Abdominal tumours
    Sub-working group Leader: Markus Stock (AT)
  • Brain tumours
    Sub-working group Leaders: Iuliana Toma-Dasu (SE), Dante Amelio (IT)
  • CSI tumours
    Sub-working group Leaders: Petra Trnková (CZ), Alessandra Bolsi (CH)
  • Extremity tumours
    Sub-working group Leaders: Lorenzo Placidi (IT), Alessandra Bolsi (CH), Juliette Thariat (FR)
  • Head and neck tumours
    Sub-working group Leader: Juliette Thariat (IT)
  • Pelvic tumours
    Sub-working group Leaders: Markus Stock (AT), Christian Reschl (AT)
  • Thoracic tumours
    Sub-working group Leader: Alexandru Dasu (SE)

Projects:

  • Comprehensive evaluation of inter- and intrafraction accuracy of immobilization devices used for image-guided particle radiation therapy: a multicenter study

Study Managers: Amelio Dante (IT), Daniele Scartoni (IT)

Description: here

Events:

The “Image Guidance” work package organises an annual event to discuss ongoing activities related to the aforementioned aims of the work package.

  • Past workshops

2025: Maastro, Maastricht (NL) - EPTN WP2/WP4-EURADOS Joint workshop
Part 1: Workshop on Out-of-field Dosimetry in Proton Therapy: Translation to Clinical Practice with a Focus on Pregnant Patients (21 February; online)
Part 2: Workshop on Out-of-field Dosimetry in Proton Therapy: Translation to Clinical Practice with a Focus on Pregnant Patients (10 and 11 March; live in Maastricht)

2024: HollandPTC, Delft (NL) - Progress report

2023: Skandionkliniken, Uppsala (SE) - Progress Report 2023

2022: MedAustron, Wiener Neustadt (AT) - Progress Report 2022

2021: virtual meeting                  

2020: virtual meeting - Progress Report 2020

2019: Centro di Protonterapia, Trento (IT) - Progress Report 2019

2018: Proton Therapy Center Czech, Prague (CZ) - Progress Report 2018

2017: University ProtonTherapy Dresden, Dresden (DE) - Progress Report 2017

2016 : Progress Report 2016

News:

  • Abstract presentation at PTCOG63
    Image Guided Proton Therapy of Head and Neck Tumours, Practise Survey of the EPTN WP4
    • Thariat P, Louwe R, Bäumer C, Baker C, Comi S, Goedgebeur A, Jensen K, Kedzierska-Pardel D, Lowe M, Pisciotta P, Troost E, Vallhagen Dahlgren C, Vidal M, Vitek P, Widesott L, Hoffmann A, Bolsi A.

 

  • Publications
    • Trnková P, Dasu A, Placidi L, Stock M, Toma-Dasu I, Brouwer CL, Gosling A, Jouglar E, Kristensen I, Martin V, Moinuddin S, Pasquie I, Peters S, Pica A, Plaude S, Righetto R, Rombi B, Thariat J, van der Weide H, Hoffmann A, Bolsi A. Patterns of practice of image guided particle therapy for cranio-spinal irradiation: A site specific multi-institutional survey of European Particle Therapy Network. Physica Medica 2024; 123: 103407. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2024.103407
    • Bolsi A, Peroni M, Amelio D, Dasu A, Stock M, Toma-Dasu I, Nyström PW, Hoffmann A. Practice patterns of image guided particle therapy in Europe: A 2016 survey of the European Particle Therapy Network (EPTN). Radiother Oncol 2018; 128(1): 4-8. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2018.03.017.

Coordinators:
Christian Richter, Germany
Tony Lomax, Switzerland

Coordinators:
Brita Sørensen, Denmark
Armin Lühr, Germany

Coordinator:
Yolande Lievens, Belgium

Coordinators:
Esther Troost, Germany
Vincent Gregoire, France

 

EPTN Reports

EPTN Reports


EPTN Documents

 

EPTN Publications