Proton Therapy for Brain Cancer

Overview

Brain cancer is due to the growth of abnormal (tumor) cells in the brain. Similar tumors occur in the spinal cord. While benign tumors generally do not invade other tissues, malignant (cancerous) tumors contain fast-growing cells that can spread to surrounding healthy brain tissue. Both benign and malignant tumors tend to cause symptoms by putting pressure on surrounding structures; however, malignant tumors tend to invade and destroy adjacent structures. There are two types of brain cancer: primary, which originates in the brain, and metastatic, the more common type, which begins elsewhere in the body and spreads to the brain.

In many cases, treating brain tumors requires extremely precise technology. Proton therapy can be used to treat certain brain tumors by delivering high doses of radiation to tumors with accuracy. While the treatment works to eliminate cancerous cells, it also minimizes exposure to non-targeted, healthy tissue surrounding the brain. As a result, patients get the benefit of extremely precise tumor targeting with a lower risk for potential side effects.

Benefits of Proton Therapy

During treatment, a narrow proton beam is guided to focus the highest energy of the beam at the location of the tumor in the brain. While the proton beam is being delivered, it can also:

• Be designed to conform to the shape, size and depth of tumors
• Limit excess radiation near surrounding areas of the body

Proton Therapy Candidates

Proton therapy most often treats tumors in sensitive areas where conventional therapy may not be the best option. The accuracy of proton therapy makes it particularly useful in treating:

• Patients with benign tumors
• Tumors near sensitive areas of the brain
• Patients who require postoperative radiation therapy
• Patients who have recurrent brain tumors following treatment
• Select patients, including those with brain metastases, who may be candidates for stereotactic proton therapy

Once the proton beam enters the body at the targeted brain tumor, less radiation is administered. Then, after the proton beam hits the tumor, little to no radiation is delivered to help protect nearby tissue.

Source: American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, National Brain Tumor Society, National Cancer Institute, and Texas Cancer Registry