[Initial experience of proton beam therapy at the new facility of the University of Tsukuba].
OBJECTIVE
To present the initial experience with proton beam therapy at the new Proton Medical Research Center (PMRC) of the University of Tsukuba.


METHODS
The new facility has a synchrotron with maximum energy of 250MeV and two rotational gantries. We treated 105 patients with 120 lesions with proton beams in the first year, beginning in September 2001. The most common lesion treated was primary liver cancer (40 lesions) followed by lung cancer, head and neck cancers, and prostate cancer. Concurrent X-ray radiotherapy was given for 38 of the 120 lesions.


RESULTS
The median follow-up period was 11 months (range, 1-19 months). Of the 105 patients, 97% had Grade 0-2 RTOG/EORTC acute morbidities, while the remaining 3% had Grade 3. Tumor response after irradiation was CR for 35% of the lesions, PR for 25%, SD for 22%, PD for 9%, and not evaluated for 9%.


CONCLUSIONS
The proton beam therapy conducted at the new facility of the University of Tsukuba was safe and effective.
Kagei
Kenji
K
Proton Medical Research Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, University of Tsukuba.
Tokuuye
Koichi
K
Sugahara
Shinji
S
Hata
Masaharu
M
Igaki
Hiroshi
H
Hashimoto
Takayuki
T
Ohara
Kiyoshi
K
Akine
Yasuyuki
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011522:Protons; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness
D011522:Protons