Proton beam therapy for head and neck cancer

Abstract

The goal of multimodality therapy for head and neck cancer is to improve the therapeutic ratio by increasing the tumor control probability and decreasing treatment-related toxicity. Due to the close spatial relationship of head and neck cancers to numerous normal anatomical structures, conventional photon radiation therapy can be associated with significant acute and long-term treatment-related toxicities. The superior dose-localization properties of proton radiation therapy allow smaller volumes of normal tissues to be irradiated than is feasible with any photon technique. Initial clinical experience with proton radiation therapy in the treatment of head and neck cancers is promising. As the number of proton facilities increases worldwide, prospective clinical trials are underway to define the role of proton radiation in the treatment of head and neck cancers.