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Review
. 2018 Jan-Dec:12:1753466618783878.
doi: 10.1177/1753466618783878.

Advances in proton therapy in lung cancer

Melissa A L Vyfhuis  1 , Nasarachi Onyeuku  1 , Tejan Diwanji  1 , Sina Mossahebi  1 , Neha P Amin  1 , Shahed N Badiyan  1 , Pranshu Mohindra  1 , Charles B Simone 2nd  2
Affiliations
Review

Advances in proton therapy in lung cancer

Melissa A L Vyfhuis et al. Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2018 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States (US) and worldwide. Radiation therapy is a mainstay in the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and serves as an excellent alternative for early stage patients who are medically inoperable or who decline surgery. Proton therapy has been shown to offer a significant dosimetric advantage in NSCLC patients over photon therapy, with a decrease in dose to vital organs at risk (OARs) including the heart, lungs and esophagus. This in turn, can lead to a decrease in acute and late toxicities in a population already predisposed to lung and cardiac injury. Here, we present a review on proton treatment techniques, studies, clinical outcomes and toxicities associated with treating both early stage and locally advanced NSCLC.

Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer; pencil beam scanning; proton therapy; radiation therapy; toxicities.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Components involved in PS proton therapy. ESS, energy selection system; PS, passive scatter.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
PBS proton therapy. ESS, energy selection system; PBS, pencil beam scanning.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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