Proton therapy to treat gynecological cancer
Gynecological cancer such as cervical, endometrial, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancer can be good indications for proton therapy. Indeed, as it allows for higher doses of radiation to be delivered to the tumor without damaging surrounding healthy tissue and organs, proton therapy reduces radiation dose to the small and large bowel, bladder, kidneys and pelvic bone marrow, which can potentially decrease the impact to urinary and bowel function and result in fewer short- and long-term radiation-induced side effects.1-5 Protons may also help preserve hormone function in younger women by preserving the ovaries6,7.
References
1. Verma V, Simone CB II, Wahl AO, Beriwal S, Mehta MP. Proton radiotherapy for gynecologic neoplasms. Acta Oncol [Internet]. 2016;55(11):1257–65.
2. Milby AB, Both S, Ingram M, Lin LL. Dosimetric comparison of combined intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and proton therapy versus IMRT alone for pelvic and para-aortic radiotherapy in gynecologic malignancies. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2024 May 5];82(3):e477–84.
3. Xu MJ, Maity A, Vogel J, Kirk M, Zhai H, Both S, et al. Proton therapy reduces normal tissue dose in extended-field pelvic radiation for endometrial cancer. Int J Part Ther [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2024 May 5];4(3):1–11.
4. Marnitz S, Wlodarczyk W, Neumann O, Koehler C, Weihrauch M, Budach V, et al. Which technique for radiation is most beneficial for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer? Intensity modulated proton therapy versus intensity modulated photon treatment, helical tomotherapy and volumetric arc therapy for primary radiation – an intraindividual comparison. Radiat Oncol [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 May 5];10(1).
5. Arians N, Lindel K, Krisam J, Oelmann-Avendano JT, Meixner E, König L, et al. Treatment tolerability and toxicity of postoperative proton beam therapy for gynecologic malignancies: Results of the prospective phase 2 APROVE trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys [Internet]. 2023;116(4):825–36.
6. Vyfhuis MAL, Fellows Z, McGovern N, Zhu M, Mohindra P, Wong J, et al. Preserving endocrine function in premenopausal women undergoing whole pelvis radiation for cervical cancer. Int J Part Ther [Internet]. 2019;6(1):10–7.
7. Gross J, Kim SY, Wagner S, Grover A, Geary S, Pankuch M, et al. The role of proton therapy to preserve ovarian function and reserve in mice. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys [Internet]. 2019;105(1):E670–1.
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...