Proton radiotherapy for malignant melanoma of the skin.
BACKGROUND
Malignant melanoma, a tumor with reduced radiosensitivity, has been suggested to be overcome by a high-dose fractionation radiotherapy. The proton beam presents physical characteristics that enable such high-dose irradiation.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim is to answer whether or not the proton beam can provide useful treatment for cutaneous melanoma.


METHODS
Five primary melanomas (4 acral lentiginous and 1 superficial spreading type) and 3 metastatic lymph nodes of 3 different patients were irradiated using the proton beam with a total dose of around 100 Gy fractionated into single doses of approximately 10 Gy.


RESULTS
All the macular lesions and a tumor lesion of primary melanoma disappeared completely, and other tumor lesions regressed by 80-90%. The 3 metastatic lymph nodes also regressed by 50-90%. No severe radiation-related complication occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Proton radiotherapy may prove to be a useful therapeutic modality for the management of cutaneous malignant melanoma.
Umebayashi
Y
Y
Department of Dermatology, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
Uyeno
K
K
Tsujii
H
H
Otsuka
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000528:radiation effects; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011522:Protons; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012074:Remission Induction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015996:Survival Rate
D011522:Protons