A prospective study of hypofractionated proton beam therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated proton beam therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Between September 2001 and August 2004, 51 patients with HCC greater than 2 cm away from the porta hepatis or gastrointestinal tract were treated with proton beam therapy to 66 Gy-equivalents (GyE) in 10 fractions.


RESULTS
Overall survival rates were 49.2 and 38.7% at 3 and 5 years after treatment. Local control rates were 94.5 and 87.8% at 3 and 5 years after treatment. Posttreatment serum alpha-fetoprotein values were significantly reduced when compared with pretreatment values (p < 0.0001). Patients experienced only minor acute reactions of Grade 1 or less, and 3 patients experienced late sequelae of Grade 2 or higher. However, there were no treatment-related deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypofractionated proton beam therapy is safe and well-tolerated by patients with HCC located greater than 2 cm away from the porta hepatis or gastrointestinal tract and may be effective alternative to other modalities.
Fukumitsu
Nobuyoshi
N
Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Japan.
Sugahara
Shinji
S
Nakayama
Hidetsugu
H
Fukuda
Kuniaki
K
Mizumoto
Masashi
M
Abei
Masato
M
Shoda
Junichi
J
Thono
Eriko
E
Tsuboi
Koji
K
Tokuuye
Koichi
K
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D061766:Proton Therapy; D011522:Protons / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D011522:Protons; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins