The role of proton therapy for pediatric tumors

Dr. Steven Frank, medical director at the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center, and Dr. Arnold dela Cruz Paulino, chief of pediatric service of the division of Radiation Oncology, discuss several recent publications from MD Anderson Cancer Center on the role of radiation and proton therapy on pediatric tumors.

Dr. Paulino starts off by discussing why we use proton therapy on pediatric patients. One of the things looked at is the efficacy of proton therapy with regards to different brain tumors. The studies include three particular brain tumors: ependymoma, intracranial germ cell tumors, and craniopharyngioma. Patients were compared with proton and traditional radiation (IMRT).

Proton-beam radiation therapy is used in effort to decrease long-term toxicity and reduce long-term side effects, which is particularly important in young patients.

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