Proton therapy to treat breast cancers
When using traditional photon and electron radiation methods to treat breast cancer, avoiding dose to the heart and lungs while maintaining an effective dose to the target area is a challenge. With proton therapy, the dose to the target tissue can be optimized and the surrounding tissue can be spared, reducing cardiac and pulmonary toxic effects1 and improving the quality of life of the patient2. Proton therapy is well suited for patients with advanced disease3, cardiac disease. Proton therapy is an option for patients who underwent mastectomy with implant-based breast construction4,5.
References
- Mast ME, Vredeveld EJ, Credoe HM, van Egmond J, Heijenbrok MW, Hug EB, Kalk P, van Kempen-Harteveld LM, Korevaar EW, van der Laan HP, Langendijk JA. Whole breast proton irradiation for maximal reduction of heart dose in breast cancer patients. Breast cancer research and treatment. 2014 Nov;148:33-9.
- Bush DA, Do S, Lum S, Garberoglio C, Mirshahidi H, Patyal B, Grove R, Slater JD. Partial breast radiation therapy with proton beam: 5-year results with cosmetic outcomes. International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics. 2014 Nov 1;90(3):501-5.
- Kammerer E, Le Guevelou J, Chaikh A, Danhier S, Geffrelot J, Levy C, Saloux E, Habrand JL, Thariat J. Proton therapy for locally advanced breast cancer: a systematic review of the literature. Cancer treatment reviews. 2018 Feb 1;63:19-27.
- Mutter RW, Choi JI, Jimenez RB, Kirova YM, Fagundes M, Haffty BG, Amos RA, Bradley JA, Chen PY, Ding X, Carr AM, Taylor LM, Pankuch M, Vega RBM, Ho AY, Nyström PW, McGee LA, Urbanic JJ, Cahlon O, Maduro JH, MacDonald SM. Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Consensus Statement From the Particle Therapy Cooperative Group Breast Cancer Subcommittee. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021 Oct 1;111(2):337-359.
- Gao RW, Mullikin TC, Aziz KA, Afzal A, Smith NL, Routman DM, Gergelis KR, Harmsen WS, Remmes NB, Tseung HSWC, Shiraishi SS, Boughey JC, Ruddy KJ, Harless CA, Garda AE, Waddle MR, Park SS, Shumway DA, Corbin KS, Mutter RW. Postmastectomy Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy: 5-Year Oncologic and Patient-Reported Outcomes. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2023 Nov 15;117(4):846-856.
Growing interest and implementation of proton therapy for breast cancers
According to Dr Fourquet, “Protons could be chosen when a clear benefit would be expected in sparing as much as possible the organs at risk. That would include patients with cardiac or pulmonary illnesses; carriers of breast cancer predisposing mutations; and patients with an anatomy that would degrade the quality of target coverage in order to spare the organs at risk.”
What they say about it
Frequently asked questions
In this website, we provide you with extensive literature and documents about PT research and indications. In particular, we've compiled a series of in-depth white papers exploring the various types of cancers for which proton therapy could be a viable first-choice option.
Proton therapy is indicated in an increasing number of types of tumors. To know more about proton therapy therapy's efficiency and indications, consult our pages on how to start a treatment and the different types of cancers in which oncologist choose proton therapy as a first-choice treatment.
Proton Therapy is indicated in an increasing number of types of tumors. As it minimizes...