Advances in proton therapy in lung cancer

• Main Authors: Melissa A.L. Vyfhuis, Nasarachi Onyeuku, Tejan Diwanji, Sina Mossahebi, Neha P. Amin, Shahed N. Badiyan, Pranshu Mohindra, Charles B. Simone
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-07-01
• Series: Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1753466618783878

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.