The Benefits of Treating Cancer with Proton Therapy

By Dr. Charles B. Simone, II, MD, FACRO

Proton therapy is the most precisely targeted form of radiotherapy currently available to patients. Despite the FDA’s approval of proton therapy more than 30 years ago, there remains an unfortunate lack of public awareness about a treatment that nearly every leading US cancer institution recognizes to be highly effective in reducing side effects and better preserving quality of life for those living with a wide range of malignancies. 

If you have been diagnosed with cancer and you are considering whether proton therapy might be the right option for you, here are the basics on what you should know.

How does proton therapy work?

Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation that better targets solid tumors, thereby sparing patients excess damage to nearby healthy tissues and organs. Radiation oncologists customize proton beams to travel through the body only as deep as the tumor’s location. Proton beams release less radiation than traditional ‘photon’ treatment as they enter the body, and they release no radiation at all behind the tumor. Instead, protons better allow radiation to be deposited directly to the tumor. Because the tumor is targeted so precisely, proton therapy can deliver a higher and more effective dose of radiation than conventional photon therapy that, in many cases, can improve tumor control and patient survival while still incurring less damage to adjacent normal tissues in the process.

What kinds of cancer are best treated by proton therapy?

Proton therapy is highly precise and, therefore, particularly effective in treating tumors near sensitive organs or vital tissues in the brain, spine, chest, and head and neck. It is also an effective treatment for cancers in the prostate and pelvis, breast, and liver. Its precision proves highly effective for difficult-to-treat tumors, such as those that are irregularly shaped, wrapped around other structures, or similarly difficult to access. Additionally, for pediatric patients and for patients with tumors that come back after prior treatment, proton therapy is an ideal and uniquely effective alternative to traditional radiation. 

Where can patients receive proton therapy?

There are nearly 40 proton therapy centers in the United States, spread across 23 states and the District of Columbia. These centers are outfitted with highly advanced radiation therapy technology designed to provide patients with carefully targeted, highly effective cancer treatment. Proton beam therapy is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and many private insurance companies. Check the National Association of Proton Therapy map to see if there is a location near you: https://www.proton-therapy.org/map/.

Are there different kinds of proton therapy?

There are two main types of proton therapy. Volumetric Proton Therapy is more commonly utilized and delivers a fixed quantity of energy to the entire tumor. A second type, pencil beam scanning, enables the delivery of Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT), which is widely considered to be the most advanced form of proton therapy and is what our patients receive at the New York Proton Center. IMPT can target different parts of the tumor with different radiation dose levels to treat the tumor more precisely and effectively.

Dr. Charles B. Simone, II, MD, FACRO

Dr. Simone is a Research Professor and the Chief Medical Officer of the New York Proton Center, the NYC-based facility launched in partnership by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Mount Sinai Health System and Montefiore Health System. He is also a Full Member in the Department of Radiation Oncology at MSK. He is an internationally recognized expert in the use of proton therapy to treat thoracic malignancies and for reirradiation, and in the development of clinical trial strategies and innovative research in thoracic radiation oncology and stereotactic body radiation therapy.