Proton Beam Therapy and Lung Cancer

There are approximately 170,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed every year in the United States. About 20% of them have Stage I disease at diagnosis and 55% of them have a 3 year survival rate. About 15% of them have medically inoperable tumors, but many of them are technically respectable and have historically been offered radiation therapy. Although conventional photon (x-ray) radiation therapy can control early-stage inoperable lung cancer, it often results in injury to functional lung tissue.
Loma Linda proton center conducted a clinical trial with 68 pateints with Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer and were targeted with multibeam proton beam radiation therapy to a target that included the gross tumor volume as seen on CT scan, with an additional margin to allow for respiratory motion. The delievered treatment was 51 GyE in 10 fractions over two weeks to the first 22 patients; the subsequent 46 patients received 60 GyE in 10 fractions over two weeks. Median follow up was 30 months.
No symptomatic radiation pneumonitis or late esophageal or cardiac toxicity were seen; the 3 year local control and disease-specific survival rates were 74% and 72% respectively. There was significant improvement in local tumor control in T1 and T 2 tumors (87% vs. 49%), with a trend toward improved survival.
This is referenced from Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment, Volume 5, Number 2, April (2006)

Tomorrow, we'll cover some very interesting information about the use of proton beam therapy to treat breast cancer.
Have a good Thursday.
Blessings,
Rick