Particle Therapy for Breast Cancer
1
Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
2
Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2022, 14(4), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14041066
Submission received: 17 January 2022
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Revised: 9 February 2022
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Accepted: 14 February 2022
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Published: 20 February 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breast Cancer Radiotherapy: The State of the Art)
Simple Summary
Approximately 60% of patients with breast cancer require radiotherapy. With significant advances in breast cancer outcomes, an increasing focus is being placed on cancer survivorship, including the reduction of the late effects from radiotherapy. The aim of this review article is to highlight the potential of particle therapy in ensuring comprehensive radiotherapy for patients with breast cancer while reducing normal tissue exposure that can lead to subsequent impairments in quality of life. We review the latest literature in this space for both proton and carbon therapy and highlight opportunities for future study.
Abstract
Particle therapy has received increasing attention in the treatment of breast cancer due to its unique physical properties that may enhance patient quality of life and reduce the late effects of therapy. In this review, we will examine the rationale for the use of proton and carbon therapy in the treatment of breast cancer and highlight their potential for sparing normal tissue injury. We will discuss the early dosimetric and clinical studies that have been pursued to date in this domain before focusing on the remaining open questions limiting the widespread adoption of particle therapy.
Keywords:
protons; carbon; breast cancer; particle therapy
