Proton Therapy for Mesothelioma: New Consensus Statement
A group of international experts in radiation oncology say proton therapy for mesothelioma may be a safer alternative to standard radiotherapy. Proton therapy uses protons instead of photons to destroy mesothelioma tumor cells. The group evaluated both types of radiation therapy. They conclude that proton therapy for mesothelioma is less likely to damage the opposite lung and other organs. What is Proton Therapy? Conventional radiation therapy for mesothelioma uses photons. A radiation oncologist delivers photons into the tumor with a linear accelerator. The photons or X-rays permanently damage the DNA. Damaged mesothelioma cells cannot grow and divide normally and the cells die. The downside of standard radiation therapy is that normal tissue absorbs some of the damaging photons, too. This…