Protonentherapie intrathorakaler Tumoren – aktueller Stand und Ausblick

Conventional external beam radiation therapy with high-energy photons is one of the pillars of treatment for patients with intrathoracic tumors. Due to technical advances, e.g., highly conformal, image-guided irradiation techniques, it has been possible to increase local tumor control while simultaneously reducing treatment-associated side effects. In recent years, proton beam therapy has become an alternative at an increasing number of national and international sites. At present, only four German sites offer protons for treatment of tumors outside of the eye, but the demand is increasing continually. Due to the physical characteristics of protons, i.e., the steep dose fall-off beyond the point of maximum dose deposition that is normally located in the tumor, normal tissue and organs at risk beyond the tumor can be spared. This review highlights the value of proton beam therapy for intrathoracic tumors.