title: Proton therapy of uveal melanomas in Berlin. 5 years of experience at the Hahn-Meitner Institute.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In June 1998, proton-beam therapy of ocular tumors started at the Hahn-Meitner Institute Berlin, Germany. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate treatment outcome for uveal melanomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  245 consecutive patients with primary melanoma of the uvea were treated from June 1998 to April 2003 with a 68-MeV proton beam. In 96.2% of all patients, a uniform fractionation scheme was applied: single dose 15 CGE (cobalt gray equivalent), total dose 60 CGE on 4 consecutive days. Follow-up is available in 229 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the time of median follow-up (18.4 months), local control is 96.4% and 95.5% at 3 years. Eye retention rate is 92.6% at 20 months (median follow-up) and 87.5% at 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proton-beam irradiation of uveal melanomas at the Hahn-Meitner Institute after the first 5 years of its initiation reveals local tumor control and eye retention rates in the range of other centers with larger experience. Delivering high treatment quality in hadron therapy from the beginning has been achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. stefan.hoecht@charite.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Höcht
authors.forename: Nikolaos E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Bechrakis
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nausner
authors.forename: Klaus-Martin
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kreusel
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kluge
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heese
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heufelder
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cordini
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Homeyer
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Foerster
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wiegel
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hinkelbein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001604:Berlin; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D061766:Proton Therapy; D011522:Protons / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D011522:Protons