Proton beam therapy is an advanced form of external radiotherapy that uses high-energy proton beams instead of photon x-ray beams or electrons. Carefully measured doses of protons are delivered to the precise area needing treatment, using the latest IBA ProteusONE technology. This ensures that the delivery of proton beam therapy is highly accurate and prevents the risk of radiation reaching surrounding healthy tissue.
Radiotherapy is used to kill and destroy cancer cells. It utilises radiation in the form of high-energy x-rays, known as photons, to kill and damage the cancerous cells and prevent their growth and reproduction. It can be used as a non-surgical option to treat cancer, and it can also be used to shrink a tumour or in combination with other treatments.
The Rutherford Cancer Centres and Elekta are bringing the next generation of personalised adaptive radiotherapy technology to oncology centres across the UK, with the new MR-linac Elekta Unity now available at the Rutherford Cancer Centre North West in Liverpool.
External Research Paper
The combination of brief chemo-radiotherapy provides high cure rates and represents the first line of treatment for many lymphoma patients. As a result, a high proportion of long-term survivors may experience treatment-related toxic events many years later.
Excess and unintended radiation dose to organs at risk (particularly heart, lungs and breasts) may translate in an increased risk of cardiovascular events and second cancers after a few decades. Minimizing dose to organs at risk is thus pivotal to restrain the risk of long-term complications. Proton therapy, with its peculiar physic properties, may help to better spare organs at risk and consequently to reduce toxicities especially in patients receiving mediastinal radiotherapy.
Herein, we review the physical basis of proton therapy and the rationale for its implementation in lymphoma patients, with a detailed description of the clinical data. We also discuss the potential disadvantages and uncertainties of protons that may limit their application and critically review the dosimetric studies comparing the risk of late complications between proton and photon radiotherapy.
Ricardi U, Maraldo MV, Levis M, Parikh RR. Proton Therapy For Lymphomas: Current State Of The Art. Onco Targets Ther. 2019 Oct 1;12:8033-8046. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S220730. PMID: 31632057; PMCID: PMC6781741.
*Please refer to the Terms and Conditions of this website when leaving the site and viewing third party content.
Dr Chris Tiplady has been a consultant haematologist since 2001 but was awarded his first medical qualification in 1992. His...
Read moreDr Brinda Sethugavalar studied primary medical education at the University of Dundee Medical School and obtained MBChB in 2004. She completed...
Read moreDr Cheng Boon is Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Worcester Oncology Centre at Worcester Royal Hospital. He completed medical training...
Read moreProfessor Roger Taylor is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist specialising in the treatment of patients with brain tumours and lymphoma. Professor...
Read moreThe Rutherford Cancer Centres provide high-quality cancer care by offering access to innovative and advanced treatment techniques using leading technology.
We provide exceptional patient support from diagnosis through to treatment and recovery, with leading consultants available at our centres across the country.
The Rutherford Cancer Centres provide cancer treatments and other healthcare services across the UK with our centres designed to put the patient experience first.
If you'd like to speak to us about any of the treatments we offer please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Call us on 0800 210 0402 or
© Copyright Rutherford Health Plc 2017 - 2022
All rights Reserved