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Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
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Proton therapy for pediatric head and neck malignancies
Jennifer Vogel1, Stefan Both2, Maura Kirk1
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|October 24, 2017
Summary
Proton beam therapy (PBT) shows promise for treating pediatric head and neck cancers, with low acute toxicity and high local control rates. This advanced radiation technique appears safe and effective for young patients, warranting further investigation for long-term outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Pediatric head and neck malignancies require intensive treatment.
- Proton beam therapy (PBT) offers potential for reduced toxicity by sparing normal tissues.
- Evaluating PBT's safety and efficacy in pediatric patients is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report acute toxicities and early outcomes of PBT for pediatric head and neck malignancies.
- To assess the safety profile of PBT in this specific patient population.
- To provide data on local control and survival rates following PBT.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 69 pediatric patients treated with PBT between 2010 and 2016.
- Inclusion of patients with nonhematologic malignancies of the head and neck.
- Abstraction of clinical and dosimetric data from medical records and treatment planning systems.
Main Results:
- PBT was administered to patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and other histologies.
- Reported Grade 3 toxicities included oral mucositis (4%), anorexia (22%), and dysphagia (7%).
- Actuarial 1-year freedom from local recurrence was 92%, and overall survival was 93%.
Conclusions:
- PBT demonstrated low rates of acute toxicity in pediatric patients with head and neck malignancies.
- The safety and efficacy of PBT for this cohort are supported by early outcomes.
- Further long-term follow-up is necessary to fully evaluate late toxicity and disease control.
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