A Technical Guide for Passive Scattering Proton Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

Most patients treated with proton therapy have had eye tumors, sarcomas, or, more recently, pediatric, or prostate cancers. As more proton centers have developed globally, increased capacity will permit exploration of other potential indications for proton therapy, including for the treatment of breast cancer. The rationale for proton therapy in the treatment of breast cancer is reduced inadvertent radiation dose to the heart and lung, as well as improved target coverage. As with any new technology, multiple technical parameters require optimization to deliver safe and effective radiation therapy and to maximize the benefits of the new technology. The purpose of this report is to provide a technical guide for the treatment of breast cancer with passive-scattering proton therapy and an algorithm for selecting patients with breast cancer who would benefit from proton therapy.