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Proton beam therapy for external auditory canal and middle ear cancers
Masanori Machida1, Takashi Ono2, Koki Ando1
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Southern TOHOKU Proton Therapy Center, 7-172 Yatsuyamada, Koriyama, Fukushima, 963-8052, Japan.
Journal of Radiation Research
|April 22, 2026
Summary
Proton beam therapy (PBT) shows efficacy for external auditory canal cancer (EACC) and middle ear cancer (MEC), with manageable side effects. This study highlights PBT as a viable treatment option for these rare head and neck cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Head and Neck Cancer
Background:
- Limited research exists on the effectiveness of proton beam therapy (PBT) for external auditory canal cancer (EACC) and middle ear cancer (MEC).
- Evaluating PBT's efficacy and toxicity is crucial for these rare malignancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy and toxicity of proton beam therapy (PBT) in patients with EACC and MEC.
- To determine survival rates and local control following PBT for these cancers.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 15 patients with EACC or MEC treated with PBT between 2009 and 2018.
- PBT delivered via passive scattering method with a median biologically effective dose (BED10) of 88.8 Gy (RBE).
- Concurrent chemotherapy administered in 14 patients; median follow-up of 60 months.
Main Results:
- 3-year overall survival, local control, and progression-free survival rates were 65%, 66.7%, and 53.3%, respectively.
- Late toxicity observed included grade 3 hearing impairment in four patients, pre-existing in all cases.
- No grade 4 or higher late toxicities were reported.
Conclusions:
- Proton beam therapy (PBT) demonstrates effectiveness in treating EACC and MEC.
- PBT offers a tolerable toxicity profile, even when combined with chemotherapy.
- PBT represents a promising treatment modality for patients with external auditory canal and middle ear cancers.
