People diagnosed with mesothelioma are frequently prescribed radiation therapy, whether as part of a curative approach or to relieve the symptoms created by the disease’s aggressive tumors. The treatment regimen can be grueling, with daily treatments scheduled over a period of weeks and side effects that can interfere with functions like eating and swallowing. Now, a new clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center is investigating an advance in radiation delivery that could eventually reshape treatment options. Though it is not being tested for mesothelioma directly, there is hope that it can provide benefit to those affected by this rare, asbestos-related cancer.
Trial Testing FLASH Proton Therapy Being Watched by Mesothelioma Specialists
Proton therapy is an innovative cancer treatment that is sometimes used to treat mesothelioma, depending upon how far the tumors have spread. Its advantage is better targeting that causes less damage to surrounding healthy tissue than external beam radiation. The Phase I trial, now enrolling patients at Penn Medicine’s Roberts Proton Therapy Center in Philadelphia, is testing a precision form of FLASH proton therapy that delivers radiation in less than a second rather than over multiple minutes.
The study will enroll 10 patients with recurrent head and neck cancer whose cancer has returned after previous radiation and whose tumors are unresectable, meaning they can’t undergo surgery. The specific participants were chosen because repeat radiation to the head and neck can affect a patient’s ability to eat, drink, and speak.
Mesothelioma Patients Face the Burden of Extended Radiation Treatment
Like those diagnosed with mesothelioma, patients with recurrent, unresectable head and neck cancer face grueling treatment options, with side effects and long treatment courses that take a toll on their quality of life. According to Dr. Alexander Lin, the trial’s principal investigator, the goal of FLASH proton therapy is to minimizes adverse side effects so patients can spend more time with loved ones rather than in medical facilities. Where a conventional radiation regimen requires daily sessions over five to six weeks, the FLASH protocol compresses the schedule into just five sessions across roughly 10 days.
While this trial is focused on head and neck cancer, proton therapy is already used in some mesothelioma treatment plans, and the benefits offered by FLASH could eventually help mesothelioma patients too. Faster radiation without the protocol’s known toxicities could reduce both the physical and logistical burden that radiation treatment creates, offering hope for more high-quality time with family and friends.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
