{"id":26865,"date":"2021-03-15T10:04:56","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T10:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org\/?p=18328"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:15:44","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:15:44","slug":"could-proton-beam-therapy-improve-throat-cancer-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/could-proton-beam-therapy-improve-throat-cancer-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Could proton beam therapy improve throat cancer treatment?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From chemotherapy drugs that affect the whole body to very precise surgery to remove a tumour, different cancers require different treatments.<\/p>\n

One treatment that has been used for over a century<\/a> is radiotherapy, which involves the use of high energy photons \u2013 such as x-rays or gamma rays. Rather than subjecting the entire body to treatment, this beam is only aimed directly at the tumour and damages the cells\u2019 DNA, causing them to die.<\/p>\n

Despite being so specific, there\u2019s still a chance that this treatment could damage the normal tissue surrounding the tumour \u2013 which is never good news. This can lead to a range of short- and long-term side effects (including fatigue, nausea, and memory loss), depending on where the tumour is located.<\/p>\n

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Copy this link and share this image<\/a>. Credit: Cancer Research UK<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Enter proton beam therapy. This more recent and advanced form of radiotherapy uses protons (positive-charged particles) to target the tumour cells. These protons are sped up using a piece of equipment called a particle accelerator and fired as a beam at the tumour, stopping once they hit the cancer cells.<\/p>\n

In principle, this means less damage to cells around the tumour and the potential to give stronger, more targeted treatment. But with this technology being so new, how can we be sure that it does less damage to healthy cells than conventional radiotherapy treatments?<\/p>\n

This is something that a team of our researchers across the UK are hoping to find out with the first proton beam therapy clinical trial in the UK.<\/p>\n

Putting it to the test<\/h2>\n

TORPEdO<\/a> is a phase 3 trial taking place at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. It\u2019s being led by cancer specialist Dr David Thomson to test if this innovative new form of radiotherapy can improve throat cancer treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019re trying to do is work out if we can improve the long-term side effects and quality of life for patients who are treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy,\u201d says Thomson.<\/p>\n

For 8 in 10 of the people with cancers of the throat (which includes cancers of the tonsils, base of the tongue and other parts of the oropharynx), radiotherapy is a key part of their treatment. Depending on their location, treating these cancers can be complicated by the many important organs sitting nearby.<\/p>\n

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The oropharynx is the name given to the part of the throat directly behind the mouth.<\/em> Oropharangeal cancers<\/em><\/a> are based in this region and affect the:<\/em><\/p>\n