Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research
The clinical results of proton beam therapy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a single center experience
Published in: Radiation Oncology | Issue 1/2016
Login to get accessAbstract
Background
The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the incidence of lung toxicities after proton beam therapy (PBT) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Methods
Patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer or lung metastasis who were treated with PBT between January 2009 and May 2015 were recruited from our database retrospectively. Cases of pneumonitis (excluding infection-related pneumonitis) were evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0, and the Fletcher-Hugh-Jones classification of respiratory status was used to evaluate pretreatment and posttreatment respiratory function.
Results
Sixteen IPF patients received PBT for lung tumors, 15 received PBT for primary lung cancer, and one patient received PBT for metastasis from lung cancer. The cohort was composed of 14 men and 2 women, with a median age of 76 years (range: 63–89 years). The median follow-up time was 12 months (range: 4–39 months). The median dose of PBT was 80.0 Gy relative biological dose effectiveness (RBE) (range: 66.0–86.4 Gy [RBE]). The cumulative incidence of pneumonitis was 19.8 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0–40.0 %), including one case of grade 5 pneumonitis. Reduced respiratory function was observed after PBT in seven patients, including one patient with pleural dissemination; five of these patients required home oxygen therapy.
Conclusions
This study suggests that PBT can be performed more safely in IPF patients than surgery or X-ray irradiation. Although PBT has become a treatment choice for lung tumors of patients with IPF, the adverse events warrant serious attention.