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Updated: Apr 3, 2026
Treatment of Liver Metastases Using an Internal Target Volume Method for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy
Published on: May 8, 2018
Proton beam therapy for metastatic liver tumors
Nobuyoshi Fukumitsu1, Toshiyuki Okumura1, Daichi Takizawa1
1Proton Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of proton beam therapy (PBT) for the treatment of metastatic liver tumors.
Material And Methods:
A total of 140 patients with liver metastasis who received PBT were retrospectively investigated. The main primary tumor sites were the colorectum (60) and the pancreas (19).
Results:
One hundred thirty-three patients (95%) completed treatment. Two patients experienced late adverse effects (rib fracture and cholangitis). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 24%. In the 85 patients with lesions confined to the liver, the 5-year OS rate of was 28%, and in the 55 patients with lesions both inside and outside the liver, it was 16% (P=0.007). Among the patients with lesions confined to the liver, the 5-year OS rate of the 62 patients who received curative treatment was 30%, and that of the 23 patients who received palliative treatment, 23% (P=0.016). Multivariate analysis showed that the treatment strategy (curative and palliative) alone was associated with the OS rate (P=0.02).
Conclusion:
PBT is a potentially safe and effective treatment for metastatic liver tumors.
