gms | German Medical Science

48th Meeting of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group

Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG)

28.09. - 03.10.2009, Heidelberg

Particle therapy for gastrointestinal tumors

Meeting Abstract

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  • M. Münter - Heidelberger Ionenstrahl-Therapiezentrum (HIT), Universität Heidelberg, Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie, Heidelberg, Deutschland
  • A. Jensen - Heidelberger Ionenstrahl-Therapiezentrum (HIT), Universität Heidelberg, Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie, Heidelberg, Deutschland

PTCOG 48. Meeting of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group. Heidelberg, 28.09.-03.10.2009. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2009. Doc09ptcog144

doi: 10.3205/09ptcog144, urn:nbn:de:0183-09ptcog1444

Published: September 24, 2009

© 2009 Münter et al.
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Outline

Text

Photon radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy is a common and well-established approach in multimodality treatment of various gastrointestinal tumors. Photon radiotherapy though is limited by the fact that most of the tumors are located in or adjacent to the bowel and sensitive critical organs, therefore the total dose needs to be limited due to comparatively low tolerance doses for the parenchyma of most abdominal organs e.g. liver, kidney. The aspect of normal tissue toxicity, hence the need for normal tissue sparing, and the still disappointing clinical results in some indications provided a rationale for particle radiotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer. This educational session aims to present an overview of available clinical data for proton and charged particle therapy in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors. Keeping in mind that data concerning particle radiotherapy is still scarce and more prospective clinical studies are needed, existing data which has been published mainly by Japanese centers, will be summarized. The presentation will mainly focus on clinical results and rationale for particle therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to the existence of significant numbers of studies. Various fractionation concepts in the application of protons and carbon ions for HCC will be presented. Additionally, potential new indications which have, of so far been less extensively investigated, will be discussed focusing on esophageal and pancreatic cancer.

Also, target motion in gastrointestinal tumors has to be considered as an important aspect beside the clinical rationale. Concepts to reduce the motion or target beam-on time to increase accuracy of particle delivery will be discussed.

In summary, this session will give an overview of the available literature for particle therapy in gastrointestinal tumors as well as targeting organ motion in this context and will try to explain clinical rationale and increase interest in particle therapy for so far less extensively investigated gastrointestinal tumors.