title: Proton therapy in clinical practice.
abstract: Radiation dose escalation and acceleration improves local control but also increases toxicity. Proton radiation is an emerging therapy for localized cancers that is being sought with increasing frequency by patients. Compared with photon therapy, proton therapy spares more critical structures due to its unique physics. The physical properties of a proton beam make it ideal for clinical applications. By modulating the Bragg peak of protons in energy and time, a conformal radiation dose with or without intensity modulation can be delivered to the target while sparing the surrounding normal tissues. Thus, proton therapy is ideal when organ preservation is a priority. However, protons are more sensitive to organ motion and anatomy changes compared with photons. In this article, we review practical issues of proton therapy, describe its image-guided treatment planning and delivery, discuss clinical outcome for cancer patients, and suggest challenges and the future development of proton therapy.
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Joe Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D056973:Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017785:Photons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D061766:Proton Therapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D011522:Protons