Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
08:34
Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
Radiotherapy
Sonja Krause1, Jürgen Debus, Dirk Neuhof
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. sonja.krause@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Summary
Local radiotherapy offers effective treatment for solitary bone or soft tissue plasmocytomas, achieving high local control rates. Palliative radiotherapy can alleviate multiple myeloma symptoms, with future potential for total body irradiation in curative regimens.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Hematology
Background:
- Solitary plasmocytomas, including solitary plasmocytoma of the bone (SBP) and extramedullary plasmocytoma (EP), are distinct clinical entities.
- Multiple myeloma frequently presents with symptoms like pain and neurological deficits requiring management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of local radiotherapy for solitary plasmocytomas.
- To discuss the role of palliative radiotherapy in managing multiple myeloma symptoms.
- To explore the future potential of total body irradiation (TBI) in myeloma treatment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of local radiotherapy outcomes for SBP and EP.
- Review of palliative radiotherapy approaches for multiple myeloma.
- Discussion of emerging TBI-based treatment strategies.
Main Results:
- Local radiotherapy achieves high 10-year local control rates (up to 90%) for solitary plasmocytomas with low toxicity.
- Palliative radiotherapy effectively manages myeloma-related symptoms using short schedules and reduced doses.
- Low-dose TBI is being investigated for curative regimens combined with stem cell transplantation.
Conclusions:
- Local radiotherapy is a highly effective and well-tolerated treatment for solitary plasmocytomas.
- Palliative radiotherapy provides significant symptom relief for multiple myeloma patients.
- Total body irradiation holds future promise for potentially curative myeloma treatment.
Related Concept Videos
02:49Cancer Therapies
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Radiological investigations are paramount in the diagnosis and management of various pulmonary diseases. Two essential investigations are the Pulmonary Angiogram and the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan.
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
01:17Radiation: Applications
The average temperature of Earth is the subject of much current discussion. Earth is in radiative contact with both the Sun and dark space; it receives almost all its energy from the radiation of the Sun and reflects some of it into outer space. Dark space is very cold, about 3 K, so Earth radiates energy into it. For instance, heat transfer occurs from soil and grasses, the rate of which can be so rapid that frost can occur on clear summer evenings, even in warm latitudes.
The average...
The average...