Progress in dose algorithm research for proton therapy planning system

Proton therapy can deliver highly conformal dose distribution to the targeted organs or tissues while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues. These characteristics of proton therapy have great significance for reducing patients' radiation injuries. Proton therapy has to be performed based on accurate calculation of the dose distributions inside the patients' body and the proton treatment planning system is thus an indispensable part of proton therapy. The paper intends to provide a review on recent progress in dose algorithm research for proton therapy planning system. (authors)