title: New frontiers in proton therapy: applications in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to review published data on proton therapy in the multimodality treatment of breast cancer so as to provide an overview of the advantages and critical issues relating to this irradiation modality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In-silico studies show a clear advantage in terms of dose homogeneity to the target and dose reduction to the non-target structures including heart, lungs, and healthy breast tissues. Clinical studies have shown the feasibility of proton therapy in breast cancer and allowed optimizing the technique by using multiple beams and intensity modulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proton therapy is able to optimize the dose to the target and to reduce the irradiation of the healthy tissues. Clinical studies are expected to show a decreased risk of late side effects with potential improvement of the quality of life of breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: aEuropean Institute of Oncology, Milan bNational Centre of Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), Pavia cUniversity of Milan, Milan dUniversity of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orecchia
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zurrida
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krengli
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000068456:Clinical Studies as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061766:Proton Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage