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Published on: February 6, 2019
Carbon ion radiation therapy for high-risk meningiomas
Stephanie E Combs1, Christian Hartmann, Anna Nikoghosyan
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Stephanie.Combs@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Background:
We analyzed outcome after a carbon ion boost in combination with precision photon radiation therapy in patients with meningiomas.
Patients And Methods:
Ten patients with meningiomas were treated with carbon ion RT as part of a Phase I/II trial. Carbon ion RT was conducted in conjunction with fractionated stereotactic RT (FSRT) or intensity-modulated RT (IMRT). Eight patients were treated as primary RT, in 2 patients carbon ion RT was performed as re-irradiation. Carbon ion RT was applied with a median dose of 18 GyE, and photon RT was applied with a median dose of 50.4 Gy. Two patients with a history of former irradiation received 18GyE of carbon ion RT and a reduced dose of photon treatment.
Results:
The median follow-up time was 77 months. Five patients died during follow-up, of which four died of tumor progression. In the group treated in the primary situation, actuarial survival rates after RT were 75% and 63% at 5 and 7 years. After re-irradiation, both patients died at 10 and 67 months, respectively. Actuarial local control rates after primary RT were 86% and 72% at 5 and 7 years. Two patients developed tumor recurrence after re-irradiation, 6 and 67 months after treatment.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, carbon ion radiation shows promising results in patients with atypical or anaplastic meningiomas. Further evaluation in a larger, prospective study in comparison to proton RT or modern photon RT is needed to corroborate these results.
