PTCOG Head and Neck Subcommittee Consensus Guidelines on Particle Therapy for the Management of Head and Neck Tumors

A. Lin*, J.H.C. Chang, R.S. Grover, F.J.P. Hoebers, U. Parvathaneni, S.H. Patel, J. Thariat, D.J. Thomson, J.A. Langendijk, S.J. Frank, International Particle Therapy Co-operative Group (PTCOG)

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Radiation therapy is a standard modality in the treatment for cancers of the head and neck, but is associated with significant short- and long-term side effects. Proton therapy, with its unique physical characteristics, can deliver less dose to normal tissues, resulting in fewer side effects. Proton therapy is currently being used for the treatment of head and neck cancer, with increasing clinical evidence supporting its use. However, barriers to wider adoption include access, cost, and the need for higher-level evidence.Methods: The clinical evidence for the use of proton therapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer are reviewed here, including indications, advantages, and challenges.Results: The Particle Therapy Cooperative Group Head and Neck Subcommittee task group provides consensus guidelines for the use of proton therapy for head and neck cancer.Conclusion: This report can be used as a guide for clinical use, to understand clinical trials, and to inform future research efforts.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)84-94
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Particle Therapy
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • head and neck cancer
  • proton therapy
  • INTENSITY-MODULATED RADIOTHERAPY
  • PROTON-BEAM THERAPY
  • LOCALLY ADVANCED HEAD
  • 2ND PRIMARY HEAD
  • QUALITY-OF-LIFE
  • RADIATION-THERAPY
  • HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS
  • NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA
  • MULTIFIELD OPTIMIZATION
  • OROPHARYNGEAL CANCER

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