Proton Beam Therapy: The Context, Future Direction and Challenges Become Clearer

摘要

Radiotherapy is the most effective, and cost-effective, non-surgical treatment for cancer. It is needed in the care of 50% of cancer patients. It forms a major part of the treatment plan for 40% of those who are cured of their cancer and is primarily responsible for cure in 16%, while consuming only 5% of the cancer budget in the UK. Radiotherapy should be an essential priority for the National Health Service (NHS) to raise cancer outcomes to equivalent levels to those of the best countries [1] and to deliver the Cancer Research UK vision to cure 75% of patients of their cancer by 20 years' time [2]. Given the scale of use and value from radiotherapy, continuing investment in developing technologies is appropriate and supported by the NHS [3]; this should include proton beam therapy (PBT). If current initiatives for earlier diagnosis are successful, a greater emphasis on effective locally curative therapy should follow, which is the perfect setting for modern radiotherapy including PBT.