Clinical applications of proton and carbon ion therapy

Tilmann Rackwitz; Jürgen Debus

doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2019.07.005

Clinical applications of proton and carbon ion therapy

Semin Oncol. 2019 Jun;46(3):226-232. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2019.07.005. Epub 2019 Aug 13.

Authors

Tilmann Rackwitz¹, Jürgen Debus²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (NCRO), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: tilmann.rackwitz@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
² Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (NCRO), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

PMID: 31451309
DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2019.07.005

Abstract

Treatment of cancer patients with charged particles like proton and carbon ions landmarks a new era in high-precision medicine. This review aims to summarize the physical and biological advantages of charged particle beams over conventional photon irradiation, presents some highlights in the treatment of selected tumor entities, and gives an update on previous and ongoing clinical trials.

Keywords: Cancer therapy; Carbon ions; Charged particles; Protons; Radiation oncology.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Clinical Trials as Topic
Heavy Ion Radiotherapy / methods*
Humans
Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
Proton Therapy / methods*