The use of proton-beam therapy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Surgical resection has played a major role in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the disease is often detected in a progressive and inoperable form. Surgical resection may also be impossible for early-stage NSCLC due to medical conditions, such as pulmonary or cardiovascular disease and old age. Radiotherapy plays an important role for these patients. Proton-beam therapy is a particle radiotherapy with an excellent dose localization that permits treatment of lung cancer by administering a high dose to the tumor while minimizing damage to the surrounding normal tissues. Thus, proton beams are increasingly being used for lung cancer. In this context, the authors review the current knowledge on proton-beam therapy for the treatment of NSCLC.