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Wu CN, Wang JD, Chen WC, Lin CY, Chiu TJ, Yang YH, Chang JTC, Luo SD, Wang YM. Intensity-modulated proton therapy versus volumetric-modulated ARC therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A long-term, multicenter cohort study. Radiother Oncol 2025; 202:110648. [PMID: 39586359 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2024.110648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2024] [Revised: 11/11/2024] [Accepted: 11/19/2024] [Indexed: 11/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data evaluating the impact of intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) on survival among nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients are limited. This study aims to elucidate the survival benefits and toxicity profiles of IMPT compared to modern photon therapy, volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), over an extended follow-up period. METHODS We analyzed data from NPC patients recorded in the Chang Gung Research Database. This analysis focused on individuals who received definitive radiotherapy, either IMPT or VMAT therapy, from 2016 to 2021. Patients with distant metastasis or concurrent other malignancies were excluded. We performed 1:1 matching based on stage, year of diagnosis, and age (± 10 years). Oncological outcomes and toxicities were assessed using Cox proportional hazards modeling. For sensitivity analysis, we employed inverse probability of treatment weighting and additional 1:2 matching. RESULTS Out of a 1,202 NPC patients' cohort, 276 were selected from a subset of 294 who received IMPT and matched with an equivalent number of patients receiving VMAT. IMPT was associated with improved oncological outcomes after matching, with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.15-0.62) for all-cause mortality and an aHR of 0.58 (95% CI: 0.34-0.99) for disease recurrence. Additionally, IMPT was linked to a reduced incidence of feeding tube placement, with an aHR of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.18-0.55). Competing risk and sensitivity analyses corroborated these trends, though the significance for disease recurrence was not consistent. CONCLUSION IMPT was associated with significantly better overall survival outcomes and a lower incidence of dysphagia compared to VMAT in NPC patients. Further randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Nung Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Der Wang
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chih Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Ying Lin
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Jan Chiu
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Hsu Yang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; Health Information and Epidemiology Laboratory of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Joseph Tung-Chieh Chang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Dean Luo
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National SunYat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ming Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National SunYat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Radiation Oncology & Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Dok R, Vanderwaeren L, Verstrepen KJ, Nuyts S. Radiobiology of Proton Therapy in Human Papillomavirus-Negative and Human Papillomavirus-Positive Head and Neck Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1959. [PMID: 38893080 PMCID: PMC11171379 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16111959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Photon-based radiotherapy (XRT) is one of the most frequently used treatment modalities for HPV-negative and HPV-positive locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, locoregional recurrences and normal RT-associated toxicity remain major problems for these patients. Proton therapy (PT), with its dosimetric advantages, can present a solution to the normal toxicity problem. However, issues concerning physical delivery and the lack of insights into the underlying biology of PT hamper the full exploitation of PT. Here, we assessed the radiobiological processes involved in PT in HPV-negative and HPV-positive HNSCC cells. We show that PT and XRT activate the DNA damage-repair and stress response in both HPV-negative and HPV-positive cells to a similar extent. The activation of these major radiobiological mechanisms resulted in equal levels of clonogenic survival and mitotic cell death. Altogether, PT resulted in similar biological effectiveness when compared to XRT. These results emphasize the importance of dosimetric parameters when exploiting the potential of increased clinical effectiveness and reduced normal tissue toxicity in PT treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüveyda Dok
- Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Vanderwaeren
- Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kevin J. Verstrepen
- Laboratory for Systems Biology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Centre for Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandra Nuyts
- Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, UZ Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Holtzman AL, Mohammadi H, Furutani KM, Koffler DM, McGee LA, Lester SC, Gamez ME, Routman DM, Beltran CJ, Liang X. Impact of Relative Biologic Effectiveness for Proton Therapy for Head and Neck and Skull-Base Tumors: A Technical and Clinical Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1947. [PMID: 38893068 PMCID: PMC11171304 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16111947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Proton therapy has emerged as a crucial tool in the treatment of head and neck and skull-base cancers, offering advantages over photon therapy in terms of decreasing integral dose and reducing acute and late toxicities, such as dysgeusia, feeding tube dependence, xerostomia, secondary malignancies, and neurocognitive dysfunction. Despite its benefits in dose distribution and biological effectiveness, the application of proton therapy is challenged by uncertainties in its relative biological effectiveness (RBE). Overcoming the challenges related to RBE is key to fully realizing proton therapy's potential, which extends beyond its physical dosimetric properties when compared with photon-based therapies. In this paper, we discuss the clinical significance of RBE within treatment volumes and adjacent serial organs at risk in the management of head and neck and skull-base tumors. We review proton RBE uncertainties and its modeling and explore clinical outcomes. Additionally, we highlight technological advancements and innovations in plan optimization and treatment delivery, including linear energy transfer/RBE optimizations and the development of spot-scanning proton arc therapy. These advancements show promise in harnessing the full capabilities of proton therapy from an academic standpoint, further technological innovations and clinical outcome studies, however, are needed for their integration into routine clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L. Holtzman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Homan Mohammadi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Keith M. Furutani
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Daniel M. Koffler
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Lisa A. McGee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
| | - Scott C. Lester
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Mauricio E. Gamez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - David M. Routman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Chris J. Beltran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Xiaoying Liang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
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Chimote AA, Lehn MA, Bhati J, Mascia AE, Sertorio M, Lamba MA, Ionascu D, Tang AL, Langevin SM, Khodoun MV, Wise-Draper TM, Conforti L. Proton Treatment Suppresses Exosome Production in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1008. [PMID: 38473367 PMCID: PMC10931005 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Proton therapy (PT) is emerging as an effective and less toxic alternative to conventional X-ray-based photon therapy (XRT) for patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) owing to its clustered dose deposition dosimetric characteristics. For optimal efficacy, cancer therapies, including PT, must elicit a robust anti-tumor response by effector and cytotoxic immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). While tumor-derived exosomes contribute to immune cell suppression in the TME, information on the effects of PT on exosomes and anti-tumor immune responses in HNSCC is not known. In this study, we generated primary HNSCC cells from tumors resected from HNSCC patients, irradiated them with 5 Gy PT or XRT, and isolated exosomes from cell culture supernatants. HNSCC cells exposed to PT produced 75% fewer exosomes than XRT- and non-irradiated HNSCC cells. This effect persisted in proton-irradiated cells for up to five days. Furthermore, we observed that exosomes from proton-irradiated cells were identical in morphology and immunosuppressive effects (suppression of IFN-γ release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells) to those of photon-irradiated cells. Our results suggest that PT limits the suppressive effect of exosomes on cancer immune surveillance by reducing the production of exosomes that can inhibit immune cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameet A. Chimote
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (A.A.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Maria A. Lehn
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (M.A.L.); (T.M.W.-D.)
| | - Jay Bhati
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (A.A.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Anthony E. Mascia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (A.E.M.); (M.S.); (M.A.L.); (D.I.)
| | - Mathieu Sertorio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (A.E.M.); (M.S.); (M.A.L.); (D.I.)
| | - Michael A. Lamba
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (A.E.M.); (M.S.); (M.A.L.); (D.I.)
| | - Dan Ionascu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (A.E.M.); (M.S.); (M.A.L.); (D.I.)
| | - Alice L. Tang
- Department of Otolarynogology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
| | - Scott M. Langevin
- Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA;
- University of Vermont Cancer Center, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Marat V. Khodoun
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Trisha M. Wise-Draper
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (M.A.L.); (T.M.W.-D.)
| | - Laura Conforti
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (A.A.C.); (J.B.)
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Hansen CR, Jensen K, Smulders B, Holm AIS, Samsøe E, Nielsen MS, Sibolt P, Skyt P, Elstrøm UV, Nielsen CP, Johansen J, Zukauskaite R, Eriksen JG, Farhadi M, Andersen M, Andersen E, Overgaard J, Grau C, Friborg J. Evaluation of decentralised model-based selection of head and neck cancer patients for a proton treatment study. DAHANCA 35. Radiother Oncol 2024; 190:109812. [PMID: 37479061 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Proton treatment can potentially spare patients with H&N cancer for substantial treatment-related toxicities. The current study investigated the reproducibility of a decentralised model-based selection of patients for a proton treatment study when the selection plans were compared to the clinical treatment plans performed at the proton centre. METHODS Sixty-three patients were selected for proton treatment in the six Danish Head and Neck Cancer (DAHANCA) centres. The patients were selected based on normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) estimated from local photon and proton treatment plans, which showed a ΔNTCP greater than 5%-point for either grade 2 + dysphagia or grade 2 + xerostomia at six months. The selection plans were compared to the clinical treatment plans performed at the proton centre. RESULTS Of the 63 patients, 49 and 25 were selected based on an estimated benefit in risk of dysphagia and xerostomia, respectively. Eleven patients had a potential gain in both toxicities. The mean ΔNTCP changed from the local selection plan comparison to the clinical comparison from 6.9 to 5.3 %-points (p = 0.01) and 7.3 to 4.9 %-points (p = 0.03) for dysphagia and xerostomia, respectively. Volume differences in both CTV and OAR could add to the loss in ΔNTCP. 61 of the 63 clinical plans had a positive ΔNTCP, and 38 had a ΔNTCP of 5%-points for at least one of the two endpoints. CONCLUSION A local treatment plan comparison can be used to select candidates for proton treatment. The local comparative proton plan overestimates the potential benefit of the clinical proton plan. Continuous quality assurance of the delineation procedures and planning is crucial in the subsequent randomised clinical trial setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Rønn Hansen
- Laboratory of Radiation Physics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Danish Center of Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
| | - Kenneth Jensen
- Danish Center of Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Bob Smulders
- Danish Center of Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | | | - Eva Samsøe
- Danish Center of Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Zealand University Hospital, Naestved, Denmark
| | | | - Patrik Sibolt
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev & Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Peter Skyt
- Danish Center of Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | | | - Camilla Panduro Nielsen
- Laboratory of Radiation Physics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | | | - Ruta Zukauskaite
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Jesper Grau Eriksen
- Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Mohamma Farhadi
- Department of Oncology, Zealand University Hospital, Naestved, Denmark
| | - Maria Andersen
- Department of Oncology, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Elo Andersen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev & Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Jens Overgaard
- Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Cai Grau
- Danish Center of Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Jeppe Friborg
- Danish Center of Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
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Sosa AJ, Thames HD, Sanders JW, Choi SL, Nguyen QN, Mok H, Ron Zhu X, Shah S, Mayo LL, Hoffman KE, Tang C, Lee AK, Pugh TJ, Kudchadker R, Frank SJ. Proton therapy for the management of localized prostate cancer: Long-term clinical outcomes at a comprehensive cancer center. Radiother Oncol 2023; 188:109854. [PMID: 37597805 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Proton therapy (PT) has emerged as a standard-of-care treatment option for localized prostate cancer at our comprehensive cancer center. However, there are few large-scale analyses examining the long-term clinical outcomes. Therefore, this article aims to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and toxicity of PT in patients with localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Review of 2772 patients treated from May 2006 through January 2020. Disease risk was stratified according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines as low [LR, n = 640]; favorable-intermediate [F-IR, n = 850]; unfavorable-intermediate [U-IR, n = 851]; high [HR, n = 315]; or very high [VHR, n = 116]. Biochemical failure and toxicity were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and multivariate models. RESULTS The median patient age was 66 years; the median follow-up time was 7.0 years. Pelvic lymph node irradiation was prescribed to 28 patients (1%) (2 [0.2%] U-IR, 11 [3.5%] HR, and 15 [12.9%] VHR). The median dose was 78 Gy in 1.8-2.0 Gy(RBE) fractions. Freedom from biochemical relapse (FFBR) rates at 5 years and 10 years were 98.2% and 96.8% for the LR group; 98.3% and 93.6%, F-IR; 94.2% and 90.2%, U-IR; 94.3% and 85.2%, HR; and 86.1% and 68.5%, VHR. Two patients died of prostate cancer. Overall rates of late grade ≥ 3 GU and GI toxicity were 0.87% and 1.01%. CONCLUSIONS Proton therapy for localized prostate cancer demonstrated excellent clinical outcomes in this large cohort, even among higher-risk groups with historically poor outcomes despite aggressive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan J Sosa
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Howard D Thames
- Departments of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeremiah W Sanders
- Departments of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Seungtaek L Choi
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Quynh-Nhu Nguyen
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Henry Mok
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - X Ron Zhu
- Departments of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shalin Shah
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lauren L Mayo
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karen E Hoffman
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chad Tang
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew K Lee
- Texas Center for Proton Therapy, Irving, TX, USA
| | | | - Reena Kudchadker
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Steven J Frank
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Chang CL, Lin KC, Chen WM, Shia BC, Wu SY. Comparing the Oncologic Outcomes of Proton Therapy and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Radiother Oncol 2023; 190:109971. [PMID: 39492511 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the oncologic outcomes between proton therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients undergoing curative radiotherapy (RT). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We studied HNSCC patients who underwent curative-intent RT from 2015 to 2019, comparing the oncologic outcomes of proton therapy and IMRT. Our national retrospective HNSCC cohort study involved three institutes with proton therapy and 17 institutes (medical center levels) with IMRT in Taiwan. We utilized the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database to collect medical data for this study. We classified patients into two groups based on treatment method: Group 1 received IMRT, while Group 2 received proton therapy. 3:1 propensity score matching was performed to minimize the impact of potential confounders. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate oncologic outcomes. RESULTS This study of 60,485 patients with HNSCC found that proton therapy was associated with better overall and cancer-specific survival and lower locoregional recurrence rates than IMRT. After matching, 982 patients were analyzed, with well-balanced factors. Proton therapy was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality, cancer-specific death, and locoregional recurrence (LRR). Patients who received proton therapy had significantly lower risks of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR=0.43), cancer-specific death (aHR=0.44), and LRR (aHR=0.61) than those who received IMRT. CONCLUSION Proton therapy is associated with superior outcomes in terms of overall survival, cancer-specific survival, and locoregional recurrence rates compared to IMRT in patients with HNSCC. These results provide valuable evidence for clinicians and patients in decision-making regarding the choice of radiation therapy for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Lun Chang
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Chou Lin
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ming Chen
- Graduate Institute of Business Administration, College of Management, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Artificial Intelligence Development Center, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ben-Chang Shia
- Graduate Institute of Business Administration, College of Management, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Artificial Intelligence Development Center, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Yuan Wu
- Graduate Institute of Business Administration, College of Management, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Artificial Intelligence Development Center, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Food Nutrition and Health Biotechnology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Radiation Oncology, Lo-Hsu Medical Foundation, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan; Big Data Center, Lo-Hsu Medical Foundation, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan; Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Cancer Center, Lo-Hsu Medical Foundation, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan; Centers for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Management, College of Management, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan.
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Holtzman AL, Dagan R, Mendenhall WM. Proton Radiotherapy for Skull-Base Malignancies. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am 2023:S1042-3699(23)00005-5. [PMID: 37005171 DOI: 10.1016/j.coms.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Proton therapy (PT) is a form of highly conformal external-beam radiotherapy used to mitigate acute and late effects following radiotherapy. Indications for treatment include both benign and malignant skull-base and central nervous system pathologies. Studies have demonstrated that PT shows promising results in minimizing neurocognitive decline and reducing second malignancies with low rates of central nervous system necrosis. Future directions and advances in biologic optimization may provide additional benefits beyond the physical properties of particle dosimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L Holtzman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, 2015 North Jefferson Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206, USA.
| | - Roi Dagan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, 2015 North Jefferson Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206, USA
| | - William M Mendenhall
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, 2015 North Jefferson Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206, USA
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9
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Photon- and Proton-Mediated Biological Effects: What Has Been Learned? LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 13:life13010030. [PMID: 36675979 PMCID: PMC9866122 DOI: 10.3390/life13010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The current understanding of the effects of radiation is gradually becoming broader. However, it still remains unclear why some patients respond to radiation with a pronounced positive response, while in some cases the disease progresses. This is the motivation for studying the effects of radiation therapy not only on tumor cells, but also on the tumor microenvironment, as well as studying the systemic effects of radiation. In this framework, we review the biological effects of two types of radiotherapy: photon and proton irradiations. Photon therapy is a commonly used type of radiation therapy due to its wide availability and long-term history, with understandable and predictable outcomes. Proton therapy is an emerging technology, already regarded as the method of choice for many cancers in adults and children, both dosimetrically and biologically. This review, written after the analysis of more than 100 relevant literary sources, describes the local effects of photon and proton therapy and shows the mechanisms of tumor cell damage, interaction with tumor microenvironment cells and effects on angiogenesis. After systematic analysis of the literature, we can conclude that proton therapy has potentially favorable toxicological profiles compared to photon irradiation, explained mainly by physical but also biological properties of protons. Despite the fact that radiobiological effects of protons and photons are generally similar, protons inflict reduced damage to healthy tissues surrounding the tumor and hence promote fewer adverse events, not only local, but also systemic.
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