Radiotherapy plays an irreplaceable role in the treatment of Central Nervous System (CNS) cancers. In indicated cases, irradiation improves the results after radical or partial resection or for inoperable tumours.

Surgery is the basic approach to brain cancer treatment. Radicality is the decisive prognostic factor. Histological examination of the tumour is decisive for further treatment, and for non-radical procedures. A stereotactic biopsy is typically made if the tumour is evidently inoperable.

Indications for Proton Radiotherapy

• Low grade gliomas:
  – Pilocytic Astrocytoma
  – Nonpilocytic Gliomas (astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, oligoastrocytoma)
• Meningiomas
• Pituitary adenomas
• Chordomas and Chondrosarcomas

Contraindications

• Glioblastoma
• Metastasis (the cancer has spread from its primary location to other organs)
• Metal/ceramic parts in the radiation field
• Presence of a pacemaker

Advantages of Proton Therapy

The main advantage of proton therapy is in the significantly better radiation distribution, due to which improved treatment results can be achieved while reducing toxicity of the therapy.

CNS cancers are the most closely followed cancer types treated by proton therapy. Owing to the higher radiation doses applied to the tumour, the treatment results for grade 2-3 meningiomas, chordomas and chondrosarcomas attained by proton therapy are superior to those attained by photon radiotherapy. In addition, the adverse effects are milder.

Proton therapy offers improved patients’ quality of life thanks to the less severe and shorter side effects, as well as a higher chance for preservation of the quality of life.

To learn more about proton therapy for brain cancer, or to find out if you are a suitable candidate for treatment at our centre, contact us today. Our team will get back to you with a detailed response as soon as possible.

* Suitability for treatment at our centre must be determined by our medical team.