Proton therapy for sarcomas

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors that can occur in a wide array of anatomic sites and age ranges with varying histologies. Proton beam therapy, as compared with advanced x-ray radiation therapy techniques, can substantially lower dose to nontarget tissues. This dosimetric advantage can potentially allow for improvement of the therapeutic ratio in the treatment of many of the sarcomas by either increasing the local control, via increased dose to the target, or by decreasing the normal tissue complications, via lowered dose to the avoidance structures. This article reviews the key dosimetric studies and clinical outcomes published to date documenting the potential role proton beam therapy may play in the treatment of sarcomas.