title: Advances in radiation oncology for the management of oropharyngeal tumors.
abstract: The major benefits of modern radiation therapy (eg, intensity-modulated [x-ray] radiation therapy [IMRT]) for oropharyngeal cancer are reduced xerostomia and better quality of life. Intensity-modulated proton therapy may provide additional advantages over IMRT by reducing radiation beam-path toxicities. Several acute and late treatment-related toxicities and symptom constellations must be kept in mind when designing and comparing future treatment strategies, particularly because currently most patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma present with human papillomavirus-positive disease and are expected to have a high probability of long-term survival after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 97, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: G Brandon
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Gunn
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Head and neck cancer; Intensity-modulated proton therapy; Intensity-modulated radiation therapy; Oropharyngeal tumors; Radiation therapy