by What is Proton beam therapy?
Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons rather than X-rays to treat cancerous tumors. In proton beam therapy, protons are accelerated to very high speeds and then aimed at the tumor. Protons deposit most of their energy at the end of their path, when they stop penetrating tissues. This allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation to the tumor while limiting the damage to surrounding healthy tissues and organs.
How Does Proton beam therapy Work?
Proton beam therapy works via a particle accelerator known as a cyclotron or synchrotron, which accelerates protons to very high energies. The accelerated protons are then directed through a beam transport system to the treatment room. There, proton beams are precisely aimed at the tumor using magnets that guide the beams.
Doctors first use imaging scans like CT or MRI to create three-dimensional images of the tumor and surrounding organs. This helps them determine the best angle to aim the proton beams from, while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissues. During treatment, patients lie on a table that slides into the center of a large, donut-shaped machine known as a gantry. The proton beam shoots out of the gantry at the tumor.
Advantages of Proton Therapy
Proton beam therapy offers several advantages over conventional photon radiation therapy using X-rays:
– Precision: Proton Therapy beams can be precisely aimed at the tumor, allowing doctors to deliver higher and more effective radiation doses to cancer cells while reducing radiation side effects. This precision helps protect nearby healthy tissues from unnecessary radiation exposure.
– Conformal: Radiation oncologists can design custom proton treatment plans sculpted precisely to the size and shape of each patient’s tumor. This further enhances protection of healthy tissues and sensitive structures like organs.
– Control over radiation dose: Protons deposit most of their energy at the end of their path in tissue. This means they deliver very little radiation to healthy tissues along their entrance path into the body. Doctors can control the proton beam energy to determine the depth of radiation deposition.
– Less side effects: Due to their precision and control over radiation dose, proton beam therapy results in fewer side effects than photon therapy. This allows patients to receive higher radiation doses and improves their tolerance to treatment. Common side effects like fatigue, skin reactions and damage to nearby organs are reduced.
Who Can Benefit from Proton Therapy?
Certain types of cancer are particularly suitable for proton beam therapy due to their location near sensitive organs. Patients who are good candidates for proton beam therapy include:
– Pediatric cancers: Children are very sensitive to radiation, and proton beam therapy helps minimize long-term side effects from treatment by reducing unwanted dose to developing organs and tissues. Cancers like brain tumors, sarcomas and leukemias are common in children.
– Head and neck cancers: Located in close proximity to the optic nerves, eyes, brainstem and other vital structures. Proton beam therapy offers superior target conformity.
– Central nervous system (CNS) tumors: Brain and spinal cord tumors benefit from precision targeting achievable through proton beam therapy.
– Lung cancer: Enables higher and more precise radiation doses to lung tumors while protecting the heart and coronary arteries from damage.
– Breast cancer: Effective for left-sided breast cancers located near the heart. Protons help reduce cardiac exposure.
– Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers: Spares dose to kidneys, liver and other abdominal organs in treating cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, etc.
– Prostate cancer: Limits radiation to the rectum and reduces gastrointestinal side effects compared to photon therapy.
Effectiveness of Proton Therapy
Studies have found proton beam therapy to be as effective as or better than photon therapy for certain cancer types, while resulting in fewer side effects:
– Pediatric cancers: 5-year survival rates are over 80% for eye and brain tumors treated with protons compared to 60-70% for photons. Risk of cognitive impairments is reduced.
– Head and neck cancers: Equivalent tumor control with protons and improved quality of life due to fewer issues like xerostomia (dry mouth).
– Prostate cancer: Results in less rectal bleeding, diarrhea and incontinence than intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
– Lung cancer: Studies suggest protons may provide a survival benefit for early stage, inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. Heart damage risks are lower.
However, further research with long-term outcomes is still needed. Ongoing clinical trials continue to explore how proton beam therapy can be optimized and may result in even higher cure rates compared to photon techniques.
Cost Effectiveness of Proton Therapy
One potential drawback of proton beam therapy is its higher upfront cost compared to traditional photon radiation. A typical course of proton beam therapy can range anywhere from $30,000 to $75,000 or more per patient, while conventional IMRT or 3D-CRT photon therapy costs $10,000 to $25,000.
However, when long-term side effect management costs are factored in, some studies have found proton beam therapy to be cost effective for certain cancer types due to reduced complications and need for lifelong care. For example, proton beam therapy results in far fewer serious side effects in children, which translates to large cost savings over their lifetimes. As technology improves and proton beam therapy infrastructure expands, costs are also expected to decline further. Overall, proton beam therapy’s value lies not just in improved clinical outcomes but also potentially lower total costs to society over the long run.
Future Directions
Proton Therapy continues to evolve with advancements in particle accelerator and beam delivery technology. Newer systems are smaller, more compact and affordable. Researchers are exploring methods like flash proton beam therapy that utilize ultra-high dose rates for potential additional benefits. Scientists also investigate expanding proton beam therapy for other malignancies. With ongoing research validation and greater insurance coverage, this promising cancer treatment modality has the potential to significantly benefit many more patients in the future.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public Source, Desk Research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
About Author - Money Singh
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemicals and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. LinkedIn Profile
