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Lillo S, Mirandola A, Vai A, Camarda AM, Ronchi S, Bonora M, Ingargiola R, Vischioni B, Orlandi E. Current Status and Future Directions of Proton Therapy for Head and Neck Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2085. [PMID: 38893203 PMCID: PMC11171191 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112085] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The growing interest in proton therapy (PT) in recent decades is justified by the evidence that protons dose distribution allows maximal dose release at the tumor depth followed by sharp distal dose fall-off. But, in the holistic management of head and neck cancer (HNC), limiting the potential of PT to a mere dosimetric advantage appears reductive. Indeed, the precise targeting of PT may help evaluate the effectiveness of de-escalation strategies, especially for patients with human papillomavirus associated-oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) and nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Furthermore, PT could have potentially greater immunogenic effects than conventional photon therapy, possibly enhancing both the radiotherapy (RT) capability to activate anti-tumor immune response and the effectiveness of immunotherapy drugs. Based on these premises, the aim of the present paper is to conduct a narrative review reporting the safety and efficacy of PT compared to photon RT focusing on NPC and OPC. We also provide a snapshot of ongoing clinical trials comparing PT with photon RT for these two clinical scenarios. Finally, we discuss new insights that may further develop clinical research on PT for HNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lillo
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.C.); (S.R.); (M.B.); (R.I.); (B.V.); (E.O.)
| | - Alfredo Mirandola
- Medical Physics Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.); (A.V.)
| | - Alessandro Vai
- Medical Physics Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.); (A.V.)
| | - Anna Maria Camarda
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.C.); (S.R.); (M.B.); (R.I.); (B.V.); (E.O.)
| | - Sara Ronchi
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.C.); (S.R.); (M.B.); (R.I.); (B.V.); (E.O.)
| | - Maria Bonora
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.C.); (S.R.); (M.B.); (R.I.); (B.V.); (E.O.)
| | - Rossana Ingargiola
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.C.); (S.R.); (M.B.); (R.I.); (B.V.); (E.O.)
| | - Barbara Vischioni
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.C.); (S.R.); (M.B.); (R.I.); (B.V.); (E.O.)
| | - Ester Orlandi
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.C.); (S.R.); (M.B.); (R.I.); (B.V.); (E.O.)
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic, and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Chung CF, Huang BS, Wang YM, Huang YT, Chen SC. Quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving IMRT vs IMPT: a multicenter prospective longitudinal study. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:203. [PMID: 38430411 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08412-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients may experience symptom distress and depression during and after radiation therapy, which negatively impacts quality of life (QOL). We sought to identify trajectories of symptom distress, depression, social support, and QOL in patients with NPC receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) vs intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT). METHODS A multicenter prospective longitudinal study recruited NPC patients from two leading medical centers in Taiwan. The 121 NPC patients were followed from before RT (T0), at 4 weeks after beginning RT (T1), at 6 weeks of RT or the end of treatment (T2), and at 4 weeks post-RT (T3). Generalized estimating equation analysis was used to identify the factors related to QOL. RESULTS Patients' symptom distress and depression increased from T0, peaked at T2, and decreased at T3. Physical-QOL and psychosocial-QOL decreased from T0 to T2, then increased by T3. Patients who had early-stage cancer, received a lower RT dose, had less symptom distress, and had less depression were more likely to have better QOL. Greater physical-QOL was associated with IMPT receipt, higher education level, early cancer stage, lower radiation dose, less symptom distress, and less depression. Patients who had good physical performance, received a lower radiation dose, had less symptom distress, and had less depression were more likely to have better psychosocial-QOL. CONCLUSION Radiation dose, symptom distress, and depression were the most important factors affecting QOL in patients with NPC. Understanding the factors associated with the trajectory of QOL can guide care during radiation treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Fang Chung
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Bing-Shen Huang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, and Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Ming Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, and Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Tung Huang
- Center for Big Data Analytics and Statistics, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shu-Ching Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, and Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
- School of Nursing and Geriatric and Long-Term Care Research Center, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Bin Sumaida A, Shanbhag NM, Aby Ali HA, Jaafar N, AlKaabi K, Balaraj K. An Evaluation of Treatment Outcomes and Associated Factors in Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients at a Tertiary Cancer Center in the United Arab Emirates. Cureus 2024; 16:e54344. [PMID: 38371438 PMCID: PMC10873819 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and objective Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) presents a complex epidemiological pattern influenced by demographic characteristics, risk factors such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and smoking. Understanding the clinical profile and optimizing treatment strategies for NPC requires comprehensive analyses of these factors. In light of this, this study aimed to analyze the epidemiological patterns, histological characteristics, and treatment outcomes of NPC patients diagnosed and treated at a single center from 2016 to 2023. Materials and methods This retrospective study was conducted at Tawam Hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), focusing on patients diagnosed with NPC. It involved the analysis of patient age distribution to identify epidemiological patterns, histological examination to classify NPC types according to WHO guidelines, and evaluation of treatment outcomes based on induction chemotherapy regimens and concurrent chemoradiotherapy protocols. The effectiveness of various chemotherapy combinations, particularly cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (Cis+5FU), was assessed alongside the integration of advanced radiotherapy techniques like intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Results In this study of 41 NPC patients, the age distribution varied widely, ranging from 10 to 74 years, with a mean age of >40 years. There was a significant male predominance (82.93%). Most patients were non-smokers (68.29%) and did not consume alcohol (92.68%), and there was a high prevalence of EBV positivity (100%). At diagnosis, 80.49% had no metastases. The primary treatment was chemotherapy induction, with a 73.17% uptake and a 92.68% completion rate, leading to a 65.85% complete response (CR) rate. No significant association was found between smoking status and treatment response (p=0.7657). Pathologically, non-keratinizing undifferentiated squamous carcinoma was the most common variant (75.61%). The Cis+5FU regimen was the most frequently employed method (56.67%), associated with a 76.47% CR rate. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered to 87.80% of patients, with the weekly Cis regimen being the most used one (56.09%), resulting in a significant CR rate. Combining radiation therapy with concurrent and induction chemotherapy yielded high CR rates (RT+cCT: 66.66%, RT+cCT+iCT: 80%). Survival analysis revealed the highest 36-month survival rate (46.43%) in the RT+cCT+iCT group, suggesting a potential benefit from incorporating induction chemotherapy into the treatment regimen. Conclusions This study illustrates the impact of demographic variables, EBV infection, and smoking on the development and treatment outcomes of NPC. It points to the success of customized chemotherapy and advanced radiotherapy strategies. Yet, it is limited by its retrospective nature and single-center focus, and hence we recommend multicentric studies to broaden the applicability of the results and improve NPC treatment approaches for varied patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nandan M Shanbhag
- Oncology/Palliative Care, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, ARE
- Oncology/Radiation Oncology, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, ARE
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, ARE
| | | | - Noor Jaafar
- Radiotherapy Technology, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, ARE
| | | | - Khalid Balaraj
- Oncology/Radiation Oncology, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, ARE
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Yi B, Jatczak J, Deng W, Poirier YP, Yao W, Witek ME, Molitoris JK, Zakhary MJ, Zhang B, Biswal NC, Ferris MJ, Mossahebi S. Is noncoplanar plan more robust to inter-fractional variations than coplanar plan in treating bilateral HN tumors with pencil-beam scanning proton beams? J Appl Clin Med Phys 2024; 25:e14186. [PMID: 37974385 PMCID: PMC10860533 DOI: 10.1002/acm2.14186] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Noncoplanar plans (NCPs) are commonly used for proton treatment of bilateral head and neck (HN) malignancies. NCP requires additional verification setup imaging between beams to correct residual errors of robotic couch motion, which increases imaging dose and total treatment time. This study compared the quality and robustness of NCPs with those of coplanar plans (CPs). METHODS AND MATERIALS Under an IRB-approved study, CPs were created retrospectively for 10 bilateral HN patients previously treated with NCPs maintaining identical beam geometry of the original plan but excluding couch rotations. Plan robustness to the inter-fractional variation (IV) of both plans was evaluated through the Dose Volume Histograms (DVH) of weekly quality assurance CT (QACT) sets (39 total). In addition, delivery efficiency for both plans was compared using total treatment time (TTT) and beam-on time (BOT). RESULTS No significant differences in plan quality were observed in terms of clinical target volume (CTV) coverage (D95) or organ-at-risk (OAR) doses (p > 0.4 for all CTVs and OARs). No significant advantage of NCPs in the robustness to IV was found over CP, either. Changes in D95 of QA plans showed a linear correlation (slope = 1.006, R2 > 0.99) between NCP and CP for three CTV data points (CTV1, CTV2, and CTV3) in each QA plan (117 data points for 39 QA plans). NCPs showed significantly higher beam delivery time than CPs for TTT (539 ± 50 vs. 897 ± 142 s; p < 0.001); however, no significant differences were observed for BOT. CONCLUSION NCPs are not more robust to IV than CPs when treating bilateral HN tumors with pencil-beam scanning proton beams. CPs showed plan quality and robustness similar to NCPs while reduced treatment time (∼6 min). This suggests that CPs may be a more efficient planning technique for bilateral HN cancer proton therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- ByongYong Yi
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Jenna Jatczak
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Wei Deng
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Yannick P. Poirier
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Weiguang Yao
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Matthew E. Witek
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Jason K. Molitoris
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Mark J. Zakhary
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Baoshe Zhang
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Nrusingh C. Biswal
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Matthew J. Ferris
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Sina Mossahebi
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Maryland Proton Treatment CenterBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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Fan M, Liu D, Zhu G, Ren Y, Feng M. Comprehensive treatment of recurrent and metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: advances and future directions. PRECISION RADIATION ONCOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pro6.1181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Fan
- Department of radiation oncology Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute Sichuan Cancer Center Chengdu China
- School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Dengqun Liu
- School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
- Department of Radiation Biology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute Sichuan Cancer Preventive Center Chengdu China
| | - Guiquan Zhu
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases Sichuan University Chengdu China
| | - Yazhou Ren
- School of Computer Science and Engineering University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Mei Feng
- Department of radiation oncology Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute Sichuan Cancer Center Chengdu China
- School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
- The Third People's Hospital of Sichuan Province Chengdu China
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6
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Current Radiotherapy Considerations for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235773. [PMID: 36497254 PMCID: PMC9736118 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is the primary treatment modality for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Successful curative treatment requires optimal radiotherapy planning and precise beam delivery that maximizes locoregional control while minimizing treatment-related side effects. In this article, we highlight considerations in target delineation, radiation dose, and the adoption of technological advances with the aim of optimizing the benefits of radiotherapy in NPC patients.
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7
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Shechter O, Sausen DG, Gallo ES, Dahari H, Borenstein R. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Epithelial Associated Malignancies: Exploring Pathologies and Current Treatments. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:14389. [PMID: 36430864 PMCID: PMC9699474 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of eight known herpesviruses with the potential to infect humans. Globally, it is estimated that between 90-95% of the population has been infected with EBV. EBV is an oncogenic virus that has been strongly linked to various epithelial malignancies such as nasopharyngeal and gastric cancer. Recent evidence suggests a link between EBV and breast cancer. Additionally, there are other, rarer cancers with weaker evidence linking them to EBV. In this review, we discuss the currently known epithelial malignancies associated with EBV. Additionally, we discuss and establish which treatments and therapies are most recommended for each cancer associated with EBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Shechter
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA
| | - Daniel G. Sausen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA
| | - Elisa S. Gallo
- Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Division of Dermatology, Tel-Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Harel Dahari
- The Program for Experimental and Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Ronen Borenstein
- The Program for Experimental and Theoretical Modeling, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
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Nguyen NP, Kim L, Thariat J, Baumert BG, Mazibuko T, Gorobets O, Vinh-Hung V, Giap H, Mehmood T, Vincent F, Chi A, Basu T, Loganadane G, Mohammadianpanah M, Karlsson U, Oboite E, Oboite J, Ali A, Page BR. Immunotherapy and Modern Radiotherapy Technique for Older Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Proposed Paradigm by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5285. [PMID: 36358703 PMCID: PMC9654379 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The standard of care for locally advanced head and neck cancer is concurrent chemoradiation or postoperative irradiation with or without chemotherapy. Surgery may not be an option for older patients (70 years old or above) due to multiple co-morbidities and frailty. Additionally, the standard chemotherapy of cisplatin may not be ideal for those patients due to oto- and nephrotoxicity. Though carboplatin is a reasonable alternative for cisplatin in patients with a pre-existing hearing deficit or renal dysfunction, its efficacy may be inferior to cisplatin for head and neck cancer. In addition, concurrent chemoradiation is frequently associated with grade 3-4 mucositis and hematologic toxicity leading to poor tolerance among older cancer patients. Thus, a new algorithm needs to be developed to provide optimal local control while minimizing toxicity for this vulnerable group of patients. Recently, immunotherapy with check point inhibitors (CPI) has attracted much attention due to the high prevalence of program death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in head and neck cancer. In patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer refractory to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, CPI has proven to be superior to conventional chemotherapy for salvage. Those with a high PD-L1 expression defined as 50% or above or a high tumor proportion score (TPS) may have an excellent response to CPI. This selected group of patients may be candidates for CPI combined with modern radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated image-guided radiotherapy (IM-IGRT), volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) or proton therapy if available, which allow for the sparing of critical structures, such as the salivary glands, oral cavity, cochlea, larynx and pharyngeal muscles, to improve the patients' quality of life. In addition, normal organs that are frequently sensitive to immunotherapy, such as the thyroid and lungs, are spared with modern radiotherapy techniques. In fit or carefully selected frail patients, a hypofractionated schedule may be considered to reduce the need for daily transportation. We propose a protocol combining CPI and modern radiotherapy techniques for older patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer who are not eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy and have a high TPS. Prospective studies should be performed to verify this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam P Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University, 2041 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Lyndon Kim
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | | | - Brigitta G Baumert
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Cantonal Hospital Graubuenden, 7000 Chur, Switzerland
| | - Thandeka Mazibuko
- International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Olena Gorobets
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Martinique, 97213 Le Lamentin Martinique, France
| | - Vincent Vinh-Hung
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de la Polynesie Francaise, 98716 Pirae, Tahiti, French Polynesia
| | - Huan Giap
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Tahir Mehmood
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton NN1 5BD, UK
| | - Felix Vincent
- Department of Surgery, Southern Regional Health System-Lawrenceburg, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464, USA
| | - Alexander Chi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beijing Chest Hospital, Beijing 101149, China
| | - Trinanjan Basu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, HCG Cancer Center Borivali, and HCG ICS, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400092, India
| | | | | | - Ulf Karlsson
- International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Eromosele Oboite
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University, 2041 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Joan Oboite
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University, 2041 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Ahmed Ali
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Brandi R Page
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21093, USA
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Nuyts S, Bollen H, Ng SP, Corry J, Eisbruch A, Mendenhall WM, Smee R, Strojan P, Ng WT, Ferlito A. Proton Therapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Early Clinical Experience and Current Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14112587. [PMID: 35681568 PMCID: PMC9179360 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Proton therapy is a promising type of radiation therapy used to destroy tumor cells. It has the potential to further improve the outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer since it allows to minimize the radiation dose to vital structures around the tumor, leading to less toxicity. This paper describes the current experience worldwide with proton therapy in head and neck cancer. Abstract Proton therapy (PT) is a promising development in radiation oncology, with the potential to further improve outcomes for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). By utilizing the finite range of protons, healthy tissue can be spared from beam exit doses that would otherwise be irradiated with photon-based treatments. Current evidence on PT for HNSCC is limited to comparative dosimetric analyses and retrospective single-institution series. As a consequence, the recognized indications for the reimbursement of PT remain scarce in most countries. Nevertheless, approximately 100 PT centers are in operation worldwide, and initial experiences for HNSCC are being reported. This review aims to summarize the results of the early clinical experience with PT for HNSCC and the challenges that are currently faced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Nuyts
- Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Department of Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence:
| | - Heleen Bollen
- Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Department of Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sweet Ping Ng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia;
| | - June Corry
- Division of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Vincent’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia;
| | - Avraham Eisbruch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - William M Mendenhall
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32209, USA;
| | - Robert Smee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Prince of Wales Cancer Centre, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia;
| | - Primoz Strojan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Wai Tong Ng
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Alfio Ferlito
- Coordinator of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group, 35125 Padua, Italy;
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10
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Xia Z, Wang J, Xia J, Wang M, Cheng Z. Inequality in Accessibility of Proton Therapy for Cancers and Its Economic Determinants: A Cross-Sectional Study. Front Oncol 2022; 12:876368. [PMID: 35669433 PMCID: PMC9163414 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.876368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer is a leading cause of death in the world, and the estimated new cancer cases were 19 million and the estimated cancer deaths were around 10 million worldwide in 2020. Proton therapy (PT) is a promising treatment for cancers; however, only few patients with cancer received PT due to limited number of PT centers worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Methods and Results Cross-sectional country level data were collected from publicly available information. Lorenz curves and Gini coefficient were used to assess the inequality in accessing to PT, and zero-inflated Poisson models were used to investigate the determinants of number of PT facilities in each country. The Gini coefficients were 0.96 for PT centers and 0.96 for PT chambers, which indicated high level of inequality. Total GDP had a significant impact on whether a country had a practical PT center, whereas total GDP and GDP per capita had significant impacts on the number of PT centers. Conclusion Extremely high inequality exists in accessibility of PT centers among all countries in the world. Economic development was the most important factor determining the adoption of PT; thus, with the growth in global economics, more PT centers can be expected in near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongying Xia
- Department of Oncology of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jiaxin Xia
- College of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Menglei Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Cheng
- Department of Oncology of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiqiang Cheng,
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