title: Carbon ion therapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Carbon ion therapy is a type of radiotherapies that can deliver high-dose radiation to a tumor while minimizing the dose delivered to the organs at risk; this profile differs from that of photon radiotherapy. Moreover, carbon ions are classified as high-linear energy transfer radiation and are expected to be effective for even photon-resistant tumors. Recently, high-precision radiotherapy modalities such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), proton therapy, and carbon ion therapy have been used for patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer, and the results are promising, as, for carbon ion therapy, local control and overall survival rates at 5 years are 80-90% and 40-50%, respectively. Carbon ion therapy may be theoretically superior to SBRT and proton therapy, but the literature that is currently available does not show a statistically significant difference among these treatments. Carbon ion therapy demonstrates a better dose distribution than both SBRT and proton therapy in most cases of early-stage lung cancer. Therefore, carbon ion therapy may be safer for treating patients with adverse conditions such as large tumors, central tumors, and poor pulmonary function. Furthermore, carbon ion therapy may also be suitable for dose escalation and hypofractionation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center, 1-2-1 Kouto, Shingu-cho, Tatsuno, Hyogo 679-5165, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Demizu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center, 1-2-1 Kouto, Shingu-cho, Tatsuno, Hyogo 679-5165, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Nagoya Proton Therapy Center, Nagoya City West Medical Center, 1-1-1 Hiratecho, Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 462-8508, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center, 1-2-1 Kouto, Shingu-cho, Tatsuno, Hyogo 679-5165, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobukazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fuwa
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D063193:Heavy Ion Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017785:Photons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage