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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
Proton-based radiotherapy for unresectable or incompletely resected osteosarcoma.
I Frank Ciernik1, Andrzej Niemierko, David C Harmon
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Cancer
|March 31, 2011
Summary
Proton therapy offers effective local control for osteosarcoma (OSA), achieving 72% local control at 5 years in patients with unresectable or incompletely resected tumors. This approach shows promise for curative treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Osteosarcoma (OSA) presents challenges in achieving local control, particularly in unresectable or incompletely resected cases.
- High-dose radiotherapy is often necessary for managing localized OSA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical outcomes of proton therapy in treating osteosarcoma.
- To assess the role of proton therapy in achieving local control for OSA.
- To identify prognostic factors influencing treatment outcomes in OSA patients receiving proton therapy.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 55 patients treated with proton or mixed photon-proton radiotherapy between 1983 and 2009.
- Proton therapy was indicated for high-dose, conformal radiotherapy in unresected, partially resected, or incompletely resected OSA with positive margins or macroscopic disease.
- Primary endpoint was local control; secondary endpoints included disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity.
Main Results:
- Local control rates were 82% at 3 years and 72% at 5 years.
- Five-year DFS and OS were 65% and 67%, respectively.
- Risk factors for local failure included high disease grade and prolonged treatment duration; 30.1% experienced Grade 3-4 late toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Proton therapy can achieve high rates of local control in osteosarcoma.
- It enables locally curative treatment for select patients with unresectable or incompletely resected OSA.
- While effective, careful consideration of toxicity and prognostic factors is warranted.
