A phase II study by the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute shows that the use of proton therapy following chemotherapy in 15 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma has a success rate similar to the conventional treatments with a reduction of radiation outside of the target area, potentially reducing the risk of late effects caused by radiation.
This study is the first of its kind to track the results of proton therapy treatment on patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. It was published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics.
The study tracked 15 patients between September 2009 and June 2013 with newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma as they received involved-node proton therapy, which specifically targets initially involved lymph nodes containing the Hodgkin lymphoma after completing chemotherapy.
The data shows a three-year relapse-free rate of 93 percent and a three-year event-free rate of 87 percent. In addition, no patients developed grade three or higher toxicity during follow-up.
Researchers evaluated the radiation dose in the surrounding healthy tissue as a result of proton therapy compared with conventional treatments, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy.
