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Fewer Complications, Side-Effects for Esophageal Cancer Patients
Because most esophageal cancers are in close proximity to many critical organs, the need to reduce exposure to surrounding, healthy tissue is a major treatment consideration. A number of clinical and modeling studies have demonstrated that proton therapy may be safer than, and equally effective as, more conventional radiation in certain scenarios:
Locally advanced, unresectable esophageal cancer
- Can be applied in higher doses with less cardiac and pulmonary toxicities [1]
- Demonstrates favorable cancer control rates using dose escalated proton therapy [2-5]
Resectable esophageal cancer with neoadjuvant therapy
- Reduces radiation exposure to the heart, lung, and liver [4]
- Results in lower rates of post-operative, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and wound complications as compared to conventional radiation[5]
- Produces fewer side-effects including less nausea and adverse hematologic reactions [5]
Recurrent esophageal cancer
- Can re-irradiate with acceptable cancer control rates and safety [6]
1. Wang, S.L., et al., Investigation of clinical and dosimetric factors associated with postoperative pulmonary complications in esophageal cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2006. 64(3): p. 692-9.
2. Koyama, S., et al., Proton beam therapy for patients with esophageal carcinoma. Jpn J Clin Oncol, 1994. 24(3): p. 144-53.
3. Sugahara, S., et al., Clinical results of proton beam therapy for cancer of the esophagus. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2005. 61(1): p. 76-84.
4. Yu, J., et al., Motion-robust intensity-modulated proton therapy for distal esophageal cancer. Med Phys, 2016. 43(3): p. 1111-8.
5. Chuong, M.D., et al., Improving Outcomes for Esophageal Cancer using Proton Beam Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2016. 95(1): p. 488-97.
6. Fernandes, A., et al., A Prospective Study of Proton Beam Reirradiation for Esophageal Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2016. 95(1): p. 483-7.
For more information, please contact Cheryl Savage, Administrator, Department of Radiation Medicine
Phone: 202-444-4639
Email: [email protected]
