Proton therapy for pediatric malignancies: Fact, figures and costs. A joint consensus statement from the pediatric subcommittee of PTCOG, PROS and EPTN. Issue 1 (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weber, Damien C.; Habrand, Jean Louis; Hoppe, Bradford S.; Hill Kayser, Christine; Laack, Nadia N.; Langendijk, Johanes A.; MacDonald, Shannon M.; McGovern, Susan L.; Pater, Luke; Perentesis, John P.; Thariat, Juliette; Timmerman, Beate; Yock, Torunn I.; Mahajan, Anita
• Is Part Of: Radiotherapy and oncology. Volume 128:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 55
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Proton therapy -- CNS tumors -- Sarcoma -- Children -- Pediatric cancer -- Lymphoma; Oncology -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Periodicals; Medical Oncology -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiothérapie -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9940642
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2018.05.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-8140

Abstract

Abstract: Radiotherapy plays an important role in the management of childhood cancer, with the primary aim of achieving the highest likelihood of cure with the lowest risk of radiation-induced morbidity. Proton therapy (PT) provides an undisputable advantage by reducing the radiation 'bath' dose delivered to non-target structures/volume while optimally covering the tumor with tumoricidal dose. This treatment modality comes, however, with an additional costs compared to conventional radiotherapy that could put substantial financial pressure to the health care systems with societal implications. In this review we assess the data available to the oncology community of PT delivered to children with cancer, discuss on the urgency to develop high-quality data. Additionally, we look at the advantage of combining systemic agents with protons and look at the cost-effectiveness data published so far.