Dataset for predicting single-spot proton ranges in proton therapy of prostate cancer

Abstract

The number of radiotherapy patients treated with protons has increased from less than 60,000 in 2007 to more than 220,000 in 2019. However, the considerable uncertainty in the positioning of the Bragg peak deeper in the patient raised new challenges in the proton therapy of prostate cancer (PCPT). Here, we describe and share a dataset where 43 single-spot anterior beams with defined proton energies were delivered to a prostate phantom with an inserted endorectal balloon (ERB) filled either with water only or with a silicon-water mixture. The nuclear reactions between the protons and the silicon yield a distinct prompt gamma energy line of 1.78 MeV. Such energy peak could be identified by means of prompt gamma spectroscopy (PGS) for the protons hitting the ERB with a three-sigma threshold. The application of a background-suppression technique showed an increased rejection capability for protons hitting the prostate and the ERB with water only. We describe each dataset, document the full processing chain, and provide the scripts for the statistical analysis.