Proton-Beam Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

A question often asked by patients recommended for radiation treatment is whether outcomes might be improved with proton-beam radiation therapy (PBRT) versus conventional radiation therapy. To date, PBRT is often used for pediatric tumors, central nervous system tumors, and genitourinary malignancies. However, data supporting its use for breast cancer is lacking.

Now, investigators have conducted a prospective phase II study of the use of PBRT in a cohort of 69 women (median age, 45 years) with nonmetastatic breast cancer requiring postoperative regional nodal irradiation. Patients were eligible if they were not ideal candidates for conventional radiation due to breast reconstruction that would prevent target coverage, or if they were expect…