
High frequency research
Our interdisciplinary group of physicians, physicists and engineers works on preclinical characterization and optimization of high frequency electromagnetic fields for therapeutical use. The results of preclinical-biological research together with planning calculations and modeling promote improvement of applications and development of novel high frequency-based therapeutic devices and facilitate and accompany their clinical implementation. The group is also responsible for optimal application, continuous service and quality assurance of the clinical devices.
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Interdisciplinary high frequency research group
Our group works on high frequency modeling (power density- and temperature distributions, patient models from imaging data sets), phantom construction, quality assurance and development of hard- and software for planning and optimization of high frequency-based treatments in oncology. One focus is the development of technical solutions for translational research.
The group is associated with the department of radiation oncology and the Charité hyperthermia center. Cooperation partners include the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) and various institutions and clinical departments at Charité.
Research focus of the research group
Prof. Pirus Ghadjar / Principal Investigator
- High frequency-based cell concepts
- Biological, genomic/proteomic-experiments
- Electrophysiological experiments
- High frequency clinical expertise
- Clinical trials
Prof. Peter Wust / Senior Professor
- High frequency-based cell concepts
- Electrophysiological experiments
- High frequency clinical expertise
- Clinical trials
Dr. Jacek Nadobny / Medical Physicist and Biomedical Engineer
- High frequency-based planning and optimization of high frequency applications
- Development of algorithms to calculate high frequency electromagnetic fields
- Development of algorithms to calculate time independent temperature distributions
- Development of algorithms to calculate/estimate high frequency effects in cells
- Applicator design
Eva Oberacker / Post Doc
- Clinical-physical analysis and optimization of high frequency applications
- Testing and development of high frequency models using Sim4Life
Dr. Marcus Beck / Consultant of Radiation Oncology
- High frequency effects and its clinical applications
Benjamin Chrzon / Medical physicist
- Phantom development/construction, clinical-technical optimization of high frequency applications
- Quality assurance
Dr. Mirko Weihrauch / Medical physicist
- Image data transfer and analysis
- IT solutions
- MR-thermometry
- MR-based optimization
Paraskevi Danai Veltsista / PhD Student
- Biological, genomic/proteomic-experiments
- Design of clinical evaluations
Dr. med. univ. Benedikt Kortüm / Doctoral candidate, Scholar „Electromagnetic fields in Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy“
- Biological, genomic/proteomic-experiments
Alexander Rattunde / Doctoral candidate
- High frequency effects and its clinical applications
Methods, algorithms, devices:
- FDTD-Solver (finite-difference time-domain method) to calculate high frequency electromagnetic fields
- Time independent BHTE-Solver (bio-heat transfer equation) to calculate non-linear temperature profiles generated by high frequency electromagnetic fields
- Sim4Life-platform to simulate electromagnetic fields, temperature distributions and to design novel applicators
- Eclipse registering and contouring platform (CT, MR, PET-CT)
- I-Plan for contouring/registration/fusion of image datasets
- MatLab-based algorithms to convert contours into voxel models
- Amira DICOM reader and visualization platform
- Manufacturing of phantom materials and phantoms
- Semi-analytical and numerical cell models
- High frequency measurement equipment (network analysis, spectral- and time analysis)
- Thermometry: Fluorooptic system and high-resistive thermistors
- Thermatrx TMX-2000 thermotherapy system for conduction of high frequency animal experiments
- Oncotherm LabEHY-200 including an in-vitro and in-vivo applicator for conduction of high frequency experiments with amplitude modulation
2021
- Authors:Zschaeck S, Weingärtner J, Ghadjar P, Wust P, Mehrhof F, Kalinauskaite G, Ehrhardt VH, Hartmann V, Tinhofer I, Heiland M, Coordes A, Kofla G, Budach V, Stromberger C, Beck M
Journal:Oral Oncol. Year:2021; Volume:116:Pages:105240.
Title:Fever range whole body hyperthermia for re-irradiation of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Final results of a prospective study - Authors:Wust P, Beck M, Dabrowski R, Neumann O, Zschaeck S, Kaul D, Modest DP, Stromberger C, Gebauer B, Ghadjar P
Journal:Radiat Oncol. Year:2021; Volume:16Issue:(1):Pages:51.
Title:Radiotherapeutic treatment options for oligotopic malignant liver lesions - Authors:Kok HP, van der Zee J, Guirado FN, Bakker A, Datta NR, Abdel-Rahman S, Schmidt M, Wust P, Crezee J
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2021; Volume:38Issue:(1):Pages:532-551.
Title:Treatment planning facilitates clinical decision making for hyperthermia treatments - Authors:Beck M, Ghadjar P, Mehrhof F, Zips D, Paulsen F, Wegener D, Burock S, Kaul D, Stromberger C, Nadobny J, Ott OJ, Fietkau R, Budach V, Wust P, Müller AC, Zschaeck S
Journal:Cancers (Basel) Year:2021; Volume:13Issue:(5):Pages:1133.
Title:Salvage-Radiation Therapy and Regional Hyperthermia for Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer after Radical Prostatectomy (Results of the Planned Interim Analysis) - Authors:Nadobny J, Lim A, Seifert G, Sullivan D, Chrzon B, Weihrauch M, Zschaeck S, Herz E, Moczynska A, Pellicer-Guridi R, Wust P, Beck M, Ghadjar P
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2021; Volume:38Issue:(1):Pages:663-678.
Title:Improved patient-specific hyperthermia planning based on parametrized electromagnetic and thermal models for the SIGMA-30 applicator - Authors:Wust P, Stein U, Ghadjar P
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2021; Volume:38Issue:(1):Pages:715-731.
Title:Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology - Authors:Oberacker E, Diesch C, Nadobny J, Kuehne A, Wust P, Ghadjar P, Niendorf T
Journal:Cancers (Basel) Year:2021; Volume:13Issue:(8):Pages:1867.
Title:Patient-Specific Planning for Thermal Magnetic Resonance of Glioblastoma Multiforme - Authors:Cho CH, Grosse-Siestrup C, Nadobny J, Lojewski C, Niehus SM, Taupitz M, Hamm B, Schlattmann P
Journal:Bioelectromagnetics Year:2021; Volume:42Issue:(1):Pages:37-50.
Title:Temperatures in Pigs During 3 T MRI Temperatures, Heart Rates, and Breathing Rates of Pigs During RF Power Deposition in a 3 T (128 MHz) Body Coil - Authors:Han H, Oberacker E, Kuehne A, Wang S, Eigentler TW, Grass E, Niendorf T
Journal:Cancers (Basel) Year:2021; Volume:13Issue:(5):Pages:1001.
Title:Multi-Channel RF Supervision Module for Thermal Magnetic Resonance Based Cancer Therapy - Authors:Zschaeck S, Weingärtner J, Ghadjar P, Wust P, Mehrhof F, Kalinauskaite G, Ehrhardt VH, Hartmann V, Tinhofer I, Heiland M, Coordes A, Kofla G, Budach V, Stromberger C, Beck M.
Journal:Oral Oncol Year:2021; Volume:116:105240
Title:Fever range whole body hyperthermia for re-irradiation of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Final results of a prospective study
2020
- Authors:Kok HP, Cressman ENK, Ceelen W, Brace CL, Ivkov R, Grüll H, Haar GT, Wust P, Crezee J
Journal: Int J Hyperthermia Year:2020; Volume:37Issue:(1):Pages:711-741.
Title:Heating technology for malignant tumors: a review - Authors:Eigentler TW, Winter L, Han H, Oberacker E, Kuehne A, Waiczies H, Schmitter S, Boehmert L, Prinz C, Trefna HD, Niendorf T
Journal: NMR Biomed Year:2020; Volume:33Issue:(5):Pages:e4274.
Title:Wideband Self-Grounded Bow-Tie Antenna for Thermal MR - Authors:Bräutigam K, Lindner J, Budczies J, Pahl S, Kunitz A, Melcher I, Wust P, Nebrig M, Baur A, Denkert C, Pfitzner B
Journal:Ann Diagn Pathol Year:2020; Volume:44:Pages:151442.
Title:PARP-1 expression as a prognostic factor in Desmoid-type fibromatosis - Authors:Kuehne A, Oberacker E, Waiczies H, Niendorf T
Journal:Cancers (Basel) Year:2020; Volume:12Issue:(5):Pages:1072.
Title:Solving the Time- and Frequency-Multiplexed Problem of Constrained Radiofrequency Induced Hyperthermia - Authors:Wust P, Kortüm B, Strauss U, Nadobny J, Zschaeck S, Beck M, Stein U, Ghadjar P
Journal:Sci Rep Year:2020; Volume:10Issue:(1):Pages:13488.
Title:Non-thermal effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields - Authors:Kaul D, Pudlitz V, Böhmer D, Wust P, Budach V, Grün A
Journal:Adv Radiat Oncol Year:2020; Volume:5Issue:(5):Pages:959-964.
Title:Reirradiation of High-Grade Gliomas: A Retrospective Analysis of 198 Patients Based on the Charité Data Set - Authors:Oberacker E, Kuehne A, Oezerdem C, Nadobny J, Weihrauch M, Beck B, Zschaeck S,
Diesch C, Eigentler TW, Waiczies H, Ghadjar P, Wust P, Winter L, Niendorf T
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2020; Volume:37Issue:(1):Pages:549-563.
Title:Radiofrequency applicator concepts for thermal magnetic resonanceof brain tumors at 297MHz (7.0 Tesla). - Authors:Kok HP, Beck M, Löke DR, Helderman RFCPA, van Tienhoven G, Ghadjar P, Wust P,
Crezee H
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2020; Volume:37Issue:(1):Pages:711-741.
Title:Locoregional peritoneal hyperthermia to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis: a simulation study comparing different locoregional heating systems.
2019
- Authors:Dobšícek Trefná H, Schmidt M, van Rhoon GC, Kok HP, Gordeyev SS, Lamprecht U,
Marder D, Nadobny J, Ghadjar P, Abdel-Rahman S, Kukielka AM, Strnad V, Hurwitz
MD, Vujaskovic Z, Diederich CJ, Stauffer PR, Crezee J
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2019; Volume:36Issue:(1):Pages:277-294.
Title:Quality assurance guidelines for interstitial hyperthermia. - Authors:Wust P, Ghadjar P, Nadobny J, Beck M, Kaul D, Winter L, Zschaeck S.
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2019; Volume:36Issue:(1):Pages:1246-1254.
Title:Physical analysis of temperature-dependent effects of amplitude-modulated electromagnetic hyperthermia.
2018
- Authors:Munck Af Rosenschold P, Zelefsky MJ, Apte AP, Jackson A, Oh JH, Shulman E, Desai N, Hunt M, Ghadjar P, Yorke E, Deasy JO
Journal: Radiat Oncol Year:2018; Volume:13Issue:(1):Pages:64.
Title:Image-guided radiotherapy reduces the risk of under-dosing high-risk prostate cancer extra-capsular disease and improves biochemical control - Authors:Thieme AH, Stromberger C, Ghadjar P, Piper SK, Budach V
Journal: Radiother Oncol Year:2018; Volume:128Issue:(2):Pages:229-235.
Title:A novel voxel based homogeneity index: Rationale and clinical implications for whole-brain radiation therapy - Authors:Ghadjar P, Hayoz S, Bernhard J, Zwahlen DR, Stein J, Hölscher T, Gut P, Polat B, Hildebrandt G, Müller AC, Putora PM, Papachristofilou A, Schär C, Dal Pra A, Biaggi Rudolf C, Wust P, Aebersold DM, Thalmann GN; Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK)
Journal: Radiother Oncol Year:2018; Volume:126Issue:(2):Pages:257-262.
Title:Impact of dose intensified salvage radiation therapy on urinary continence recovery after radical prostatectomy: Results of the randomized trial SAKK 09/10 - Authors:Issels RD, Lindner LH, Verweij J, Wessalowski R, Reichardt P, Wust P, Ghadjar P, Hohenberger P, Angele M, Salat C, Vujaskovic Z, Daugaard S, Mella O, Mansmann U, Dürr HR, Knösel T, Abdel-Rahman S, Schmidt M, Hiddemann W, Jauch KW, Belka C, Gronchi A; European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer-Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group and the European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology
Journal:JAMA Oncol Year:2018; Volume:4Issue:(4):Pages:483-492.
Title:Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Regional Hyperthermia on Long-term Outcomes Among Patients With Localized High-Risk Soft Tissue Sarcoma: The EORTC 62961-ESHO 95 Randomized Clinical Trial - Authors:Ghadjar P, Wust P, Budach V, Budach W
Journal: Strahlenther Onkol Year:2018; Volume:194Issue:(12):Pages:1186-1188.
Title:Capacitive hyperthermia appears to enhance pain relief in palliative radiotherapy of painful bony metastases - Authors:Zschaeck S, Wust P, Graf R, Misch M, Onken J, Ghadjar P, Badakhshi H, Florange J, Budach V, Kaul D
Journal: Radiat Oncol Year:2018; Volume:13Issue:(1):Pages:251.
Title:Locally dose-escalated radiotherapy may improve intracranial local control and overall survival among patients with glioblastoma - Authors:Paul K, Huelnhagen T, Oberacker E, Wenz D, Kuehne A, Waiczies H, Schmitter S, Stachs O, Niendorf T
Journal:NMR Biomed Year:2018; Volume:31Issue:(3)
Title:Multiband diffusion-weighted MRI of the eye and orbit free of geometric distortions using a RARE-EPI hybrid - Authors:Hindel S, Papanastasiou G, Wust P, Maaß M, Söhner A, Lüdemann L
Journal:Magn Reson Med. Year:2018; Volume:79Issue:(6):Pages:3154-3162.
Title:Evaluation of pharmacokinetic models for perfusion imaging with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in porcine skeletal muscle using low-molecular-weight contrast agents. - Authors:Zschaeck S, Wust P, Melcher I, Nadobny J, Rau D, Striefler J, Pahl S, Flörcken A, Kunitz A, Ghadjar P
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2018; Volume:35Issue:(1):Pages:1-9.
Title:Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiation versus chemotherapy plus regional hyperthermia in high-grade soft tissue sarcomas: a retrospective comparison.
2017
- Authors:Oberacker E, Paul K, Huelnhagen T, Oezerdem C, Winter L, Pohlmann A, Boehmert L, Stachs O, Heufelder J, Weber A, Rehak M, Seibel I, Niendorf T
Journal: Magn Reson Med Year:2017; Volume:78Issue:(4):Pages:1533-1546.
Title:Magnetic resonance safety and compatibility of tantalum markers used in proton beam therapy for intraocular tumors: A 7.0 Tesla study - Authors:Zschaeck S, Wust P, Graf R, Wlodarczyk W, Schild R, Thieme AH, Weihrauch M, Budach V, Ghadjar P
Journal: Strahlenther Onkol Year:2017; Volume:193Issue:(7):Pages:561-569.
Title:Spinal cord constraints in the era of high-precision radiotherapy : Retrospective analysis of 62 spinal/paraspinal lesions with possible infringements of spinal cord constraints within a minimal volume - Authors:Wust P, Joswig M, Graf R, Böhmer D, Beck M, Barelkowski T, Budach V, Ghadjar P
Journal:Strahlenther Onkol Year:2017; Volume:193Issue:(9):Pages:700-706.
Title:Dosimetric implications of inter- and intrafractional prostate positioning errors during tomotherapy : Comparison of gold marker-based registrations with native MVCT - Authors:Beck M, Wust P, Barelkowski T, Kaul D, Thieme AH, Wecker S, Wlodarczyk W, Budach V, Ghadjar P
Journal: Radiat Oncol Year:2017; Volume:12Issue:(1):Pages:125.
Title:Risk adapted dose-intensified postoperative radiation therapy in prostate cancer patients using a simultaneous integrated boost technique applied with helical Tomotherapy - Authors:Cihoric N, Tsikkinis A, Minniti G, Lagerwaard FJ, Herrlinger U, Mathier E, Soldatovic I, Jeremic B, Ghadjar P, Elicin O, Lössl K, Aebersold DM, Belka C, Herrmann E, Niyazi M
Journal: Radiat Oncol Year:2017; Volume:12Issue:(1):Pages:1.
Title:Current status and perspectives of interventional clinical trials for glioblastoma - analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov - Authors:Zschaeck S, Blümke B, Wust P, Kaul D, Bahra M, Riess H, Klein F, Sinn M, Pelzer U, Budach V, Ghadjar P
Journal: PLoS One Year:2017; Volume:12Issue:(10):Pages:e0186341.
Title:Dose-escalated radiotherapy for unresectable or locally recurrent pancreatic cancer: Dose volume analysis, toxicity and outcome of 28 consecutive patients - Authors:Han H, Moritz R, Oberacker E, Waiczies H, Niendorf T, Winter L
Journal: Sci Rep Year:2017; Volume:7Issue:(1):Pages:13452.
Title:Open Source 3D Multipurpose Measurement System with Submillimetre Fidelity and First Application in Magnetic Resonance - Authors:Issels RD, Lindner LH, Verweij J, Wessalowski R, Reichardt P, Wust P, Ghadjar P, Hohenberger P, Angele M, Salat C, Vujaskovic Z, Daugaard S, Mella O, Mansmann U, Dürr HR, Knösel T, Abdel-Rahman S, Schmidt M, Hiddemann W, Jauch KW, Belka C, Gronchi A
Journal:JAMA Oncology Year:2018; Volume:4Issue:(4):Pages:483-492.
Title:European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer-Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group and the European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology. Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Regional Hyperthermia on Long-term Outcomes Among Patients With Localized High-Risk Soft Tissue Sarcoma: The EORTC 62961-ESHO 95 Randomized Clinical Trial. - Authors:Trefná HD, Crezee H, Schmidt M, Marder D, Lamprecht U, Ehmann M, Hartmann J, Nadobny J, Gellermann J, van Holthe N, Ghadjar P, Lomax N, Abdel-Rahman S, Bert C, Bakker A, Hurwitz MD, Diederich CJ, Stauffer PR, van Rhoon GC
Journal:Int J Hyperthermia Year:2017; Volume:33Issue:(4):Pages:471-482.
Title:Quality assurance guidelines for superficial hyperthermia clinical trials: I. Clinical requirements.
2016
- Authors:Niendorf T, Paul K, Oezerdem C, Graessl A, Klix S, Huelnhagen T, Hezel F, Rieger J, Waiczies H, Frahm J, Nagel AM, Oberacker E, Winter L
Journal:NMR Biomed Year:2016; Volume:29Issue:(9):Pages:1173-1197.
Title:W(h)ither human cardiac and body magnetic resonance at ultrahigh fields? technical advances, practical considerations, applications, and clinical opportunities - Authors:Kaul D, Florange J, Badakhshi H, Grün A, Ghadjar P, Exner S, Budach V
Journal:Radiat Oncol Year:2016; Volume:11:Pages:70.
Title:Accelerated hyperfractionation plus temozolomide in glioblastoma - Authors:Winter L, Oberacker E, Paul K, Ji Y, Oezerdem C, Ghadjar P, Thieme A, Budach V, Wust P, Niendorf T
Journal: Int J Hyperthermia Year:2016; Volume:32Issue:(1):Pages:63-75.
Title:Magnetic resonance thermometry: Methodology, pitfalls and practical solutions - Authors:Seifert G, Budach V, Keilholz U, Wust P, Eggert A, Ghadjar P
Journal:Radiat Oncol. Year:2016;
Title:Regional hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy in paediatric, adolescent and young adult patients: current and future perspectives. - Authors:Crezee J, van Leeuwen CM, Oei AL, van Heerden LE, Bel A, Stalpers LJ, Ghadjar P, Franken NA, Kok HP
Journal:Radiat Oncol. Year:2016; Volume:11:Pages:Article number: 14.
Title:Biological modelling of the radiation dose escalation effect of regional hyperthermia in cervical cancer. - Authors:Frick VO, Rubie C, Keilholz U, Ghadjar P
Journal:World J Gastroenterol. Year:2016; Volume:22Issue:(2):Pages:833-841.
Title:Chemokine/chemokine receptor pair CCL20/CCR6 in human colorectal malignancy: An overview.