The Clinical Evidence and Applications of Particle Therapy

Particle therapy offers highly precise treatment, reducing damage of surrounding organs while delivering dose to the target areas. The improved therapeutic ratio is largely attributed to the Bragg curve, which demonstrates steep dose fall-off. Although historically pediatric tumors had the clearest benefit, the application of particle therapy has expanded to adult patients of all disease sites, including tumors of the head and neck, central nervous system, thorax, breast, gastrointestinal system, and genitourinary system. As emerging trials provide increasing evidence for the utilization of particle therapy, treatment is becoming more accessible. In addition, radiation technology continues to evolve, and techniques including intensity-modulated proton therapy and adaptive proton therapy are being implemented. We review the evolution of particle therapy, the current clinical evidence supporting its use, and practical considerations.