Excerpt

Radiotherapy with charged particles can potentially deliver maximal doses while minimizing irradiation of surrounding tissues. It may be more effective or less harmful than other forms of radiotherapy for some cancers. Currently, seven centers in the United States have facilities for particle (proton) irradiation, and at least four are under construction, each costing between $100 and $225 million. The aim of this Technical Brief was to survey the evidence on particle beam radiotherapy.

Contents

• Preface
• Executive Summary
  • Background
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Remaining Issues and Future Research
• Introduction
  • Photon Beam Radiotherapy
  • Charged Particle Beam Radiotherapy
  • Statement of Work
• Methods
  • Terminology, Definitions, and Conventions
  • Gray Literature Searches
  • Published Literature Searches
  • Systematic Literature Scan
• Results
  • Key Question 1
  • Key Question 2
  • Key Question 3
• Discussion
  • Conclusion
• References
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A Selected Internet Links
  • Appendix B Ovid Medline Search Strategy
  • Appendix C Table of Eligible Studies
  • Appendix D Table of Excluded Studies
  • Appendix E Table of Screened Case Series and Case Reports
  • Appendix F Centers That Perform Particle Beam Treatment (Worldwide)
  • Appendix G Summary Table

Revised November 2009.

EPC Program Director: Joseph Lau, MD, Tufts Medical Center. AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Center Program Contacts: Beth A Collins Sharp, PhD, RN, Director, Artyom Sedrakyan, MD, PhD, Task Order Officer, Elise Berliner, PhD, Task Order Officer.

Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.¹ Contract No. 290-07-10055. Prepared by: Tufts Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center.

Suggested citation:

Trikalinos TA, Terasawa T, Ip S, Raman G, Lau J. Particle Beam Radiation Therapies for Cancer. Technical Brief No. 1. (Prepared by Tufts Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. HHSA-290-07-10055.) Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Revised November 2009. Available at: www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/reports/final.cfm.

This report is based on research conducted by the Tufts Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. HHSA 290-07-10055). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the authors, who are responsible for its content, and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The information in this report is intended to help clinicians, employers, policymakers, and others make informed decisions about the provision of health care services. This report is intended as a reference and not as a substitute for clinical judgment.

This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for the development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied.

None of the investigators has any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report.

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