Cancers treated

Cancers in adults

For adults, proton therapy is currently indicated in tumours where the ballistic and radiobiological imperatives are high. Some indications are now consensual and have been validated by the French health authorities.

So-called “radioresistant" tumours are also indications for proton therapy because they require the use of high doses of radiation to control the tumour, especially if they are close to organs whose tolerance is a limiting factor.
Indications are discussed on a case-by-case basis, based on a complete medical file and comparative dosimetry. The decision is validated in a specialized Multidisciplinary Consultation Meeting (MCM).

Cancers in children

Because of its ballistic qualities, proton therapy exposes children to a much lower dose close to, and remote ("integral") from the tumour than conventional photon radiation therapy.

Its main advantages are the reduction of local, acute and late toxicity, functional after-effects (auditory, endocrine and cognitive); together with a reduction in carcinogenic risks in the very long term.

Clinical research

As proton therapy treatments are innovative, recognized indications continue to be researched to reinforce the level of evidence of the contribution of this type of treatment. Patients are therefore frequently asked to follow their treatment as part of a clinical research protocol.
In addition, many new indications concerning much more frequent tumours are currently being explored in the United States, and may be considered as potential indications in the next five years (subgroups of patients with prostate and lung, breast or oesophagus tumours).