Proton Therapy

Michael J LaRiviere; Patricia Mae G Santos; Christine E Hill-Kayser; James M Metz

doi:10.1016/j.hoc.2019.08.006

Proton Therapy

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2019 Dec;33(6):989-1009. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2019.08.006. Epub 2019 Oct 1.

Authors

Michael J LaRiviere¹, Patricia Mae G Santos², Christine E Hill-Kayser³, James M Metz⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/mjlariviere.
² Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
³ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
⁴ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 31668216
DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2019.08.006

Abstract

Proton therapy is a form of external beam radiotherapy that has several advantages over conventional photon (x-ray) radiotherapy. Protons are useful in 2 scenarios that apply to a large proportion of cancer patients: lack of exit dose allows for delivery of a therapeutic radiation dose to tumors in challenging anatomic locations, and reduction in integral dose (low-dose bath) to normal tissues that may reduce the risk of late toxicities and secondary cancers. The emergence of smaller, more economically viable single-room proton units has led to the expansion in use of this technology across the world.

Keywords: Bragg peak; Charged ion therapy; Charged particle therapy; Ion therapy; Particle therapy; Proton therapy; Protons; Single-room proton unit.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
Organs at Risk / radiation effects*
Proton Therapy / methods*
Radiotherapy Dosage
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / methods*