Proton Beam Therapy and Breast Cancer Treatment

"PROTON NEWS
New Loma Linda Study Confirms Tissue-sparing Advantage of Proton Therapy for Partial Breast Irradiation

Physicians at Loma Linda University Medical Center's James Slater Proton Treatment Center published a study in the Cancer Journal (March/April, 2007) reporting that 20 breast cancer patients treated with protons resulted in substantial normal tissue protection when compared with standard x-ray radiation for partial breast treatment.

Each of the 20 patients studied had a lumpectomy to excise the primary cancer mass in the breast. Loma Linda radiation oncologists delivered proton beam radiation treatment in 10 daily fractions with several fields treated each day. No patient's treatment had to be interrupted for any reason. The procedure was well tolerated; patients reported no significant discomfort during treatment and acute toxicity was limited to occasional mild dermatitis, which cleared upon cessation of treatment.

The investigators concluded that protons can provide substantial normal tissue protection compared with conventional x-rays when used for partial breast treatment. This confirms the experience that Loma Linda researchers have observed with proton treatment of other cancers. Research in this area will continue, and physicians expect the role of proton therapy in breast cancer to expand in the future."
We'll talk about prostate cancer and proton beam on Monday.

Have a good weekend.
Blessings,
Rick

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

Central Nervous System and Head and Neck Tumors Treated With Proton Beam

Today we cover diseases of the eye and head and neck tumors.
Proton and helium-ion irradiation have a long established role in treating patients with ocular melanoma.
Ophthalmologists and radiation oncologists in Boston have long collaborated in offering this alternative. Of 1,006 patients treated there with protons from 1975 to 1986, 96% had tumors controlled in the eye at five years; 89% of patients retained their diseased eye, including 97% of those having small lesions; and more than 50% of patients retained vision better than 20/100.
Other diseases of the eye that are being treated with proton beam therapy are medium-size to large choroidal melanomas, macular degeneration as well as other diseases of the eye.
Physicians have also used protons to re-treat recurrent cancer of the nasopharynx. These patients had received treatment of 50.0 – 88.2 Gy of photons (x-ray) and without chemotherapy. They were treated with protons alone to additional doses of 59.4-70.2 GyE. The mean duration of follow up was 23.7 months. The rates of 24 month actuarial overall and local regional progression-free survival were both 50%. Of greater import, they analyzed dose-volume histograms to determine the patients who had received “optimal” coverage of their tumors. In such cases the 24 month actuarial overall survival rate was 83%.
Tomorrow, we’ll cover a bit about proton treatment for lung cancer.
All information referenced for Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment, Volume 5, Number 2, April (2006)
Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick

Central Nervous System and Base of Skull Tumors

Today I’m writing about the 15 year study done by Loma Linda University Proton Center concerning success in treating Central Nervous System and Base of Skull tumors.
Investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory reported long-term success using proton therapy for pituitary adenomas. Reporting on patients treated during the period from 1963 to 1990, they observed that 98% of 581 patients with acromegaly had hormone normalization at 20 years post treatment. In a group of 36 patients with Nelson’s syndrome and 180 patients with Cushing’s disease, 85% achieved hormone normalization at 20 years. Among patients treated to higher doses, 100% remained cured 10 years following treatment.
Tomorrow we’ll cover diseases of the eye and tumors of the head and neck.
All information referenced from Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment, Volume 5, Number 2, April (2006).Have a good Tuesday.
Blessings,
Rick

Week Of Successes With Proton Beam Therapy

This week I plan to spend each day sharing some information about the fifteen year study on proton beam therapy.
I have said before that proton beam can treat many types of cancer and this week, I’ll share about progress in treating Central Nervous System and Base of Skull tumors, Diseases of the eye and Tumors of the Head and Neck, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Pediatric Neoplasms.
Today we’ll handle a bit of information about the history of proton beam radiation.
Protons were first suggested for clinical use in 1946. They were first used clinically, but in a laboratory setting, in 1954, and subsequently were offered in several physics laboratories around the world. Since that time proton centers have been built in many cities. Loma Linda, California, Massachusetts General, Boston, Mass., Bloomington, Indiana, Houston, Texas, Jacksonville, Florida currently have proton beam centers and there are seven more cities that are building centers.
Little by little, proton beam is making its way to a city near you. Because of the expense of a center, they are quite a challenge for a city to afford, but the results that they produce offset any expense.
After all, how do you put a price tag on your health and quality of life?
Tomorrow I’ll write about Central Nervous System tumors.
All information referenced from Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment, Volume 5, Number 2, April (2006)Have a good Monday.
Blessings,
Rick