Proton therapy
Proton therapy, also called proton beam therapy, is a form of radiation therapy that uses accelerated protons to deliver ionizing radiation to a defined clinical target volume.
Proton therapy, also called proton beam therapy, is a form of radiation therapy that uses accelerated protons to deliver ionizing radiation to a defined clinical target volume. Its dose distribution is characterized by the Bragg peak, allowing treatment planning to concentrate radiation near a selected depth while potentially limiting exposure beyond the target. Treatment planning may therefore consider the gross tumor volume, planning target volume, and nearby organs at risk, often using computed tomography, dose-volume histograms, and comparisons with photon therapy.
The biological effect of proton therapy results from radiation-induced damage to tumor cells and other irradiated tissues. Its clinical investigation spans pediatric and adult tumors, central nervous system disease, head and neck cancer, liver tumors, and biliary tract malignancies. Current work includes treatment selection, robust and adaptive planning, compact treatment systems, long-term quality of life, late effects, and imaging of proton-induced activity.
Where the papers sit
10 papers from the last 6 months study proton therapy directly · updated from PubMed 9 Oct 2026
Study type 2 clinical trials · 3 observational · 5 human data
Themes one subject
Those 10 are all about one subject.
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Cancer Radiotherapy Outcomes
Tumor control, quality of life, late effects, and treatment planning recur across proton radiotherapy studies in liver, prostate, CNS, pediatric, and head-and-neck cancers. Prospective cohorts and registries emphasize long-term outcomes, while adaptive planning, digital twins, biologic imaging, and model-based selection address personalization. Findings remain site-specific, with no single endpoint or treatment strategy dominating. The shared aim is better-selected therapy with durable follow-up.
Papers
The 10 papers from the last 6 months that study proton therapy directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
Cancer Radiotherapy Outcomes (10)
- PMID 42018693
- PMID 42003161
- Prognostic Impact of Arterial Phase Hyperenhancement After Proton Beam Therapy for Untreated Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer medicine · 1 Sept 2026 PMID 42675808
- Five-year changes in health-related quality of life after proton therapy in a primarily meningioma cohort: a prospective study. Journal of neuro-oncology · 21 Aug 2026 PMID 42629514
- Image-guided moderately hypofractionated proton beam therapy for localized prostate cancer: 5-year outcomes of a phase II trial. Journal of radiation research · 23 Jul 2026 PMID 42490752
- A digital twin framework for adaptive treatment planning in radiotherapy. Physics in medicine and biology · 26 Jun 2026 PMID 42361838
- Evaluation of robust central nervous system treatment planning on a compact, gantry-less proton therapy system. Physics in medicine and biology · 17 Jun 2026 PMID 42309151
- Total-Body Dynamic PET/CT Imaging of Proton-Induced Activity and Biologic Washout After Proton Therapy. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine · 11 Jun 2026 PMID 42276783
- A model-based selection of oral cancer patient for passive scattering proton beam therapy. Journal of radiation research · 4 Jun 2026 PMID 42241327
- Burden of disease-specific late effects after proton beam therapy in pediatric solid and CNS tumor survivors: a single-institution survey in Japan. Japanese journal of clinical oncology · 19 May 2026 PMID 42153532
By study type
Clinical trials (2)
- A multicenter, prospective, phase 2 trial on proton re-irradiation for patients with previously treated head and neck cancer. Cancer · 31 Oct 2026 PMID 42963935
- Image-guided moderately hypofractionated proton beam therapy for localized prostate cancer: 5-year outcomes of a phase II trial. Journal of radiation research · 23 Jul 2026 PMID 42490752
Observational studies and case reports (3)
- Impact of anatomical changes on simulated proton arc therapy and intensity-modulated proton therapy for lung cancer. Journal of applied clinical medical physics · 27 Oct 2026 PMID 42934945
- Prognostic Impact of Arterial Phase Hyperenhancement After Proton Beam Therapy for Untreated Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer medicine · 1 Sept 2026 PMID 42675808
- Five-year changes in health-related quality of life after proton therapy in a primarily meningioma cohort: a prospective study. Journal of neuro-oncology · 21 Aug 2026 PMID 42629514
Human data, design not indexed (5)
- A digital twin framework for adaptive treatment planning in radiotherapy. Physics in medicine and biology · 26 Jun 2026 PMID 42361838
- Evaluation of robust central nervous system treatment planning on a compact, gantry-less proton therapy system. Physics in medicine and biology · 17 Jun 2026 PMID 42309151
- Total-Body Dynamic PET/CT Imaging of Proton-Induced Activity and Biologic Washout After Proton Therapy. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine · 11 Jun 2026 PMID 42276783
- A model-based selection of oral cancer patient for passive scattering proton beam therapy. Journal of radiation research · 4 Jun 2026 PMID 42241327
- Burden of disease-specific late effects after proton beam therapy in pediatric solid and CNS tumor survivors: a single-institution survey in Japan. Japanese journal of clinical oncology · 19 May 2026 PMID 42153532
Written from 10 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-09-11. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.