Treating advanced stage lung cancer
Dr. Steven Frank and Dr. Joe Y. Chang discuss a study on how
concurrent chemotherapy and proton therapy improves survival in
patients with advanced lung cancer.
Proton Therapy for Lung and Thoracic Cancer
Lung cancer remains the number one cancer killer among men and women in North America. The five-year survival rate is just 24 percent among those diagnosed with the disease. Physicians at the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center are world leaders in the research and treatment of lung cancer and pioneers in developing proton therapy for the benefit of lung cancer and thoracic cancer patients including esophageal cancer, thymoma and mesothelioma.
MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center was the first center to treat lung cancer with concurrent proton therapy and chemotherapy and implement intensity-modulated proton therapy in moving thoracic cancers. Our physicians have extensive experience in caring for patients with thoracic cancers and continue to make strides in treating these diseases.
Benefits of lung and thoracic cancer patients treated with proton therapy
Because the lungs are located close to several critical normal structures in the body, it is challenging to deliver an adequate dose of radiation to a cancerous tumor while sparing these nearby normal tissues. That’s where proton therapy has the advantage for many lung cancer and other thoracic cancer patients.
Using proton technology’s advanced image guidance and ability to precisely target tumors in the lungs, our specialists can deliver powerful radiation dosages with optimal accuracy, sparing critical nearby structures, such as the esophagus, lung, heart and spinal cord. This conformality means the physician can treat the tumor with a higher dose of radiation, which allows normal tissue to function better and may result in better local control of the disease, higher survival rates and improved quality of life. This feature is more crucial for patients who have received previous radiation treatments to the chest and developed thoracic recurrence.
Our experts continue to develop ways to help patients fighting lung cancer, such as treating patients with “gated breathing” or breath-holding techniques. This allows for even more precise delivery of radiation right to the tumor.
Delivering targeted, powerful cancer treatment through pencil beam scanning
In addition to gated breathing techniques, the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center offers lung cancer patients an even more advanced form of treatment called pencil beam scanning proton therapy or intensity-modulated proton therapy.
What are the types of lung and thoracic cancers that benefit from proton therapy?
Localized non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thymoma and mesothelioma
What is the course of treatment for lung cancer patients typically like?
Approximately 15 to 20 percent of lung cancer patients have early-stage tumors that can be treated with surgery or radiation treatment. Another 30 to 50 percent of lung cancer patients have locally advanced tumors that require a combined treatment regimen that includes radiation therapy. For metastatic lung cancer, consolidative radiotherapy is indicated if the patient responded well to chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
For early-stage lung cancer, only one to two weeks of radiotherapy (4 to 10 treatments) are needed. For locally-advanced lung cancer, typically six weeks (30 treatments) of radiotherapy are needed. For consolidative radiotherapy in metastatic cancer, typically one to three weeks (one to 15 treatments) of radiotherapy are needed. For esophageal cancer, less than six weeks (28 treatments) of radiotherapy is needed.
Approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of lung cancer patients have tumors that can be treated with surgery combined with others such as radiation therapy. Another 30 percent to 50 percent of lung cancer patients have locally advanced tumors that require a combined treatment regimen that includes radiation therapy. But because the lungs are located close to several critical normal structures in the body, it is challenging to deliver an adequate dose of radiation to a cancerous tumor while sparing these nearby normal tissues.
That’s where proton therapy has the advantage for many lung cancer patients.
Approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of lung cancer patients have tumors that can be treated with surgery combined with others such as radiation therapy. Another 30 percent to 50 percent of lung cancer patients have locally advanced tumors that require a combined treatment regimen that includes radiation therapy. But because the lungs are located close to several critical normal structures in the body, it is challenging to deliver an adequate dose of radiation to a cancerous tumor while sparing these nearby normal tissues.
That’s where proton therapy has the advantage for many lung cancer patients.
A decade later, survivor remains grateful for proton therapy
During a routine physical exam in June 2010, my doctor expressed concern about a possible heart abnormality. A CT scan showed my heart...
Concurrent chemotherapy, proton therapy improves survival in patients with advanced lung cancer
Recent studies have shown that for patients with advanced, inoperable stage III lung cancer, concurrent chemotherapy and specialized radiation treatment, proton therapy offers improved survival compared to historical data for the standard of care. In addition, it has been shown that it can significantly reduce the radiation toxicities of heart and lung in thoracic cancers.
“Advanced lung cancer patients with inoperable disease traditionally have been treated with concurrent chemotherapy and conventional photon radiation therapy. However, the therapy can be very difficult for patients due to associated toxicities and because many patients are also dealing with comorbidities,” says Joe Y. Chang, M.D. “But protons enter the body with a low radiation dose and stop at the tumor, matching its shape and volume or depth. They deposit the bulk of their cancer-fighting energy right at the tumor, thereby reducing the dose to cardiopulmonary structures, which impacts the toxicity, functional status, quality of life and even survival for patients.” Read more about this study.
Why I’m grateful for proton therapy
"My doctors recommended proton therapy because the cancerous lymph node was so close to my heart, and this would limit its exposure to radiation."
Undergoing proton therapy for thoracic cancer
"I had 15 treatments of proton therapy to treat the cancer that had spread to my throat and lymph nodes."
Stage III lung cancer survivor in remission
"I returned to MD Anderson for scans and routine doctor visits for four years. Then, during a virtual visit with Dr. Lin, I learned I am officially cancer-free after five years."
Why I’m grateful for proton therapy
"My doctors recommended proton therapy because the cancerous lymph node was so close to my heart, and this would limit its exposure to radiation."
Undergoing proton therapy for thoracic cancer
"I had 15 treatments of proton therapy to treat the cancer that had spread to my throat and lymph nodes."