MPRI — What Is Proton Therapy?

Proton therapy is a pinpoint-accurate radiation treatment that delivers the exact dose of radiation needed to treat a tumor. Protons are charged particles that have a well-defined range of penetration. As protons enter the body, they slow down and interact with electrons, releasing their energy (also known as radiation). As each proton nears the end of its range, the dose of radiation it deposits increases sharply, a phenomenon known as the Bragg Peak. The physician can choose where the Bragg Peak occurs, delivering a precise dose of energy to the tumor. The proton beam can even be contoured to conform to the exact shape of the tumor, enabling even greater accuracy.

This accuracy means proton therapy can:
Spare more healthy tissue and organs
Reduce side effects
Deliver increased radiation doses to the tumor, resulting in more effective treatment

Cure rates in certain cancers have risen dramatically with the use of proton therapy:
Ten-year cure rates for patients with tumors at the base of the skull have increased from 35 to 75 percent.
Five-year control rates for patients with paranasal sinus tumors have increased from 25 to 85 percent.

Proton therapy is highly effective for treating:
Localized cancers
Cancers located near a vital organ
Pediatric cancers (spares healthy growing bone and tissue)

Proton therapy is especially effective in treating pediatric cancers because it doesn't damage healthy growing bone and tissues, allowing children to develop normally and reducing the risk of secondary tumors later in life.

Watch our flash presentation to learn more about how proton therapy works.