CNS tumors are generally divided into primary tumors that originate from brain tissue or surrounding structures (such as meningeal membranes – meningeomas) and into a much larger group of secondary tumors (metastases), whose parental tumors can be anywhere in the body (e.g., in breasts, lungs, kidneys).

Primary brain tumors account for only 1-2% of all malignant tumors, but it is a very serious illness. The incidence of this disease is more frequent in two age groups, children up to 5 years of age and adults over 60 years of age.

Proton therapy reduces the burden on surrounding tissues compared to conventional radiotherapy by up to 50%. It preserves the quality of senses, vision, hearing, endocrine functions and intellect as much as possible, and reduces the likelihood of secondary tumors.

Proton therapy today is a great chance for patients with cranial base tumors (chordoma and chondrosarcoma), meningeomas, low grade gliomas, pituitary adenomas, and acoustic neuromas.

To make the right decision, it is important to have information about the results of the treatment you choose. You should not forget that your decision will significantly affect your future life. Our doctors and the entire PTC team are ready to answer all your questions related to PROTON THERAPY.                                         Do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible.

The irradiation of brain tumors is one of the most difficult and risky treatments, as it can damage the sensitive brain structures responsible for vision, hearing, and the intellect. The risk of related complications increases with higher radiation doses. The complications can significantly affect the quality of life of patients, who paradoxically suffer more adverse effects from treatment than the tumor itself.

The main advantage of proton therapy is that it makes it possible to reduce the doses of radiation to the spinal cord and the second lung, thus significantly reducing the risk of developing radiation pneumonitis, esophagitis and secondary tumors. Since proton therapy allows irradiation of the tumor using fewer fields, it reduces the dose of radiation to the heart valves, coronary arteries and the heart muscle. Irradiation of these structures may result in early ischemic heart disease, valvular defects and cardiomyopathy. The risk of these problems is dependent on the dose, and any dose reduction is therefore highly desirable.

Proton therapy is effective, safer, and has a minimum impact on the lifestyle of patients, as it usually does not cause nausea, loss of appetite, and other complications during the treatment.

The decision and choice of the right treatment are in your hands. Take the first step and leave the rest to us.

The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis.

With proton therapy, you can also preserve the quality of vision, hearing, intellect and endocrine functions as much as possible.

Due to the accuracy of the proton beam, you have the maximum possible chance of a cure. Protons are able to target the tumor on its own and accurately distribute the dose of radiation needed to destroy the tumor.

The exact dose distribution has its name: Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) and is currently the absolute peak of proton therapy. Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) works such that it only irradiates a defined area. Not more. By delivering repeated high-precision radiation targeted with millimeter accuracy directly to the tumor bed after resection, PBS destroys the tumor cells without damaging any surrounding organs and tissues due to the physical properties of the protons. PBS preserves healthy tissues. This also applies to the tissues in the direction of the beam in front of the tumor, which are only minimally irradiated.

To compare PBS with other techniques, imagine your focus and meticulous care when you are using crayons to paint a defined object on a piece of paper. For example, a circle. You will always try consistently not to cross its borders. That is how PBS works. In addition, you will have 100% confidence that they will “paint” only what is needed. This is why the adverse effects of proton therapy are minimal.

In the treatment of brain and CNS tumors, proton radiotherapy can reduce the dose to the surrounding healthy brain tissue by up to 50%, thereby reducing the risk of attention, memory, speech, cognitive, and similar disorders. It also spares internal ear structures, thus reducing the risk of hearing impairment, enables a reduction in the dose to the brainstem and optic chiasm (optic nerve crossing), and halves the risk of developing secondary tumors.

Priority = Ensuring the protection of healthy organs

Compared to conventional photon irradiation, proton irradiation, and in particular the pencil beam scanning technique, allows the delivery of radiation with better dose distribution. The complexity of tumor location makes it difficult to deliver a sufficient dose to the tumor without endangering surrounding healthy structures. This means a compromise solution should be selected. Proton therapy requires minimal compromises and can protect healthy structures while delivering a dose to the target volume sufficient to destroy the tumor.

The proton beam can be accurately aimed directly at the tumor to deliver the energy necessary for its destruction. No more radiation is passed behind the tumor. The tissues and organs behind the tumor are preserved.

BENEFITS OF PROTON radioTHERAPY:

• Almost half the dose of radiation to the surrounding sensitive brain structures.
• Reduces the risk of damage to mental and hormonal functions.
• Significantly lower probability of secondary tumors.
• Maximum dose limitation to the visual, hearing, hormonal and neurological centers of the brain.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

The list of diagnoses treated at PTC in the Czech Republic was approved by the PTC Scientific Board under the guidance of the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and was prepared in cooperation with the world’s most important centers, such as MD Anderson, the University of Philadelphia, the University of Florida, MGH Boston, and others.

Proton beam therapy is a safer and more effective treatment compared to conventional radiation therapy. The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy the tumor while protecting the healthy tissues. Conventional radiotherapy always hits a part of the healthy tissue in the surrounding areas, where irradiation is not desirable.

Protons can irradiate the tumor by delivering the smallest possible dose of radiation to the surrounding organs and tissues, thus minimizing the risk of undesirable effects. Due to its physical properties, the proton beam can be stopped directly at the tumor, thus significantly reducing the risk of unwanted irradiation of healthy tissues and organs in its surrounding area.

For radiation safety, “limit doses” have been defined for the surrounding areas (critical organs). Even adherence to the limit doses may be associated with a risk of adverse effects. The relative risk increases with time, and the longer the patient survives after the irradiation, the higher the likelihood of adverse effects. The limit dose is not always safe.

Proton therapy is safer and accessible and can be used to eliminate these risks.

The difference is seen with the naked eye in the graphical representation of irradiation plans.

The objective of the treatment is to deliver the required dose of radiation to the tumor (100%). Equally important, however, is not to irradiate the surrounding healthy tissues and organs. These requirements are met by proton therapy, which protects the eyes, brainstem, salivary glands and other important organs.

Proton therapy is an increasingly recognized and preferred method in the world. The advantages are obvious and therefore new and new centers are opened and planned. At present, 71 centers are opened, 42 centers are just before the opening, and dozens more are planned. In visionary terms, we could predict with a relatively high degree of probability that proton beam irradiation will replace now frequently used conventional radiation therapy in the future.

Proton radiotherapy is a treatment recognized and recommended by global professional organizations such as ASTRO, ESTRO and NAPT, which expand their recommendations for proton radiotherapy every year.

World experts recommend proton therapy for CNS tumors because it achieves excellent therapeutic results. Proton therapy is delivered with minimal complications, allowing for an immediate return to active life shortly after treatment.

Proton therapy significantly reduces the burden on healthy tissues, which allows for increased doses to the tumor bed, thus minimizing the overall risks associated with radiotherapy.

Did you know that…?

Czech experts from the Proton Center in Prague, together with similar centers in Vienna, Krakow and Uppsala, established the PACS group focused on proton therapy. In this way, they laid the foundations for future cooperation and development of this state-of-the-art radiotherapy. The Center also serves as a training facility for experts from other countries and cooperates with the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, the Faculty of Nuclear and Physical Engineering, CTU and a number of foreign educational institutions.