A Practical Primer on Particle Therapy

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Particle Therapy

Background:

• Particle therapy is an evolving cancer treatment modality.
• Proton beam therapy is the most prevalent form, but other ions are utilized.
• Each particle possesses distinct physical and radiobiological characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and compare the properties of various particles used in therapy.
• To discuss radiobiological and physical aspects of different ions.
• To summarize existing clinical data for practicing clinicians.

Main Methods:

• PubMed database search for relevant studies.
• Inclusion of articles on radiobiology, physics, and clinical applications.
• Narrative review synthesizing findings from 113 sources.

Main Results:

• Proton beam therapy is the most studied and widely used particle therapy.
• Carbon, helium, and neutrons follow in clinical use.
• Oxygen, neon, silicon, and argon have limited clinical use as monotherapy.

Conclusions:

• This review consolidates information on clinically relevant particles.
• Protons, helium, and carbon are expected to remain the primary choices.
• Multi-ion particle therapy represents a developing treatment strategy.