Proton radiotherapy for gynecologic neoplasms.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Proton beam therapy (PBT) is gaining global traction for various cancers.
• This review is the first to specifically evaluate PBT for gynecologic neoplasms.
• Focus is placed on dose distribution to organs at risk (OARs), especially bone marrow (BM), and clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current evidence on the use of PBT for gynecologic cancers.
• To assess dosimetric advantages and clinical outcomes associated with PBT in this patient population.
• To identify areas for future research in PBT for gynecologic malignancies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature searches were performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and major radiation oncology/clinical oncology conference abstracts.
• No date restrictions were applied to the searches.
• Sixteen original studies were identified and analyzed for this review.

Main Results:

• Evidence for PBT in gynecologic cancers is limited in quantity and quality.
• PBT shows dosimetric benefits, significantly reducing radiation dose to OARs (rectum, bladder, bowel, kidneys, BM, femoral heads).
• Clinical data suggest appropriate tumor control and low toxicity, though without Level 1 evidence.

Conclusions:

• Limited data suggest PBT may offer toxicity reductions and favorable outcomes in gynecologic cancers.
• Larger, high-quality studies are warranted to confirm the clinical significance of PBT.
• Current findings can guide future research into PBT for gynecologic neoplasms.