Comparative analysis of acute toxicities and patient reported outcomes between intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer

Radiotherapy (RT) is a standard treatment for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), regardless of human papilloma virus (HPV) status. The prevalence of HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx is rising, especially in relatively young, otherwise healthy individuals [1,2]. Substantial advances have been made to reduce RT-related toxicity to match the high curability of this disease with improved survivorship. However, even with the advanced dose conformality provided by intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), treatment remains considerably toxic with long-term sequelae, such as xerostomia, dysgeusia, dysphagia, malnutrition, and PEG-tube dependency [3 –6].
Source: Radiotherapy and Oncology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research