Proton Therapy For Gastrointestinal Cancer
Written by the California Protons Cancer Therapy Center Care Team
Proton therapy for gastrointestinal cancer may be an option for select patients who need radiation treatment for tumors in or near the digestive tract. Because GI tumors can be close to the stomach, bowel, bladder, kidneys, reproductive organs and spinal cord, treatment planning must carefully balance tumor control with protection of nearby healthy tissue.
At California Protons Cancer Therapy Center in San Diego, our physicians use intensity-modulated proton therapy with pencil beam scanning to help deliver the prescribed radiation dose to the tumor area while reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding organs whenever possible.
California Protons’ intensity-modulated pencil beam scanning technology is a highly precise form of cancer radiation treatment that enables our doctors to selectively target gastrointestinal (GI) tumors found in the intricate and sensitive areas of the digestive tract with high-dose radiation.
Compared with older passive-scattering proton therapy treatment, our pencil beam scanning technology precisely delivers radiation treatment for stomach, rectal, anal, colon and other lower GI tumors within 2 millimeters and with the utmost care. We attack tumors layer by layer and minimize harmful exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and organs. This is important as these gastric and colorectal tumors typically require aggressive doses of radiation and are located near healthy tissues and organs that are extremely susceptible to radiation. The reduction of radiation-related toxicity minimizes the side effects of radiation and also increases the likelihood that patients can complete treatment with fewer interruptions or delays.
What Is Gastrointestinal Cancer?
Gastrointestinal cancer, also called GI cancer, refers to cancers that affect the digestive system. This category can include cancers of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, bile ducts, small intestine, colon, rectum and anus.
Because each GI cancer behaves differently, the role of proton therapy depends on the diagnosis, tumor location, stage of disease, prior treatments, overall health and treatment goals. For many gastrointestinal cancers, radiation may be used as part of a broader treatment plan that can also include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Treatment Details
What We Treat
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Anal cancer
- Gastric or stomach cancer
- Select recurrent cancer and metastatic cancer
What We Do
- Precisely target the tumor or treatment area
- Help reduce radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissue
- Help limit dose to the bladder, small and large intestine, stomach, kidneys, reproductive organs and spinal cord
- Support quality of life during treatment by aiming to reduce certain treatment-related side effects
- Reduce radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, which may help lower the long-term risk of radiation-related complications in select patients
Benefits of Proton Therapy for Gastrointestinal Cancer
Proton therapy, unlike traditional X-ray radiation, gives physicians greater control over where radiation is delivered. Because proton therapy doesn’t continue through the body beyond the tumor, it can reduce unnecessary radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissue.
For gastrointestinal cancer patients, this precision may be especially important because tumors in the digestive tract and pelvis are often close to organs that are sensitive to radiation. The main benefits of proton therapy for gastrointestinal cancer include:
- Precisely targeting complex GI tumors: California Protons’ pencil beam scanning technology delivers radiation layer by layer, helping doctors shape the dose around tumors in sensitive areas of the digestive tract.
- Helps reduce radiation to nearby organs: Gastrointestinal tumors are often close to the stomach, bowel, bladder, kidneys, reproductive organs and spinal cord.
- May lower the risk of certain side effects: By reducing exposure to healthy tissue, proton therapy may help reduce side effects such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, cramping, diarrhea, dehydration, malabsorption and sexual dysfunction.
- Supports treatment for tumors near moving organs: Some GI tumors, including stomach tumors, can shift with breathing, digestion or normal internal movement. Special devices and methods can help minimize movement during treatment.
- May be useful for select recurrent cancers: For patients whose cancer has returned in an area previously treated with radiation, proton therapy may help deliver additional radiation while limiting dose to surrounding healthy tissue.
- Offers a noninvasive outpatient treatment option: Proton therapy does not require surgery, and treatments are typically delivered in an outpatient setting so patients can return home the same day.
- Helps support quality of life during treatment: By focusing radiation more precisely on the treatment area, proton therapy may help reduce treatment-related toxicity and support fewer interruptions or delays in care.
Is
Proton Therapy for Gastrointestinal Cancer
Right for You?
Proton therapy may be considered for select gastrointestinal cancer patients when radiation therapy is part of the recommended treatment plan. Because GI tumors can develop near sensitive organs, the goal is to deliver radiation to the tumor or treatment area while helping reduce unnecessary exposure to nearby healthy tissue.
Many gastrointestinal cancers are treated with a combination of therapies, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy. The right treatment approach depends on the type of GI cancer, stage, tumor location, prior treatments, overall health and care goals.
A radiation oncologist from California Protons Cancer Therapy Center can help determine whether proton therapy may offer meaningful benefits based on your diagnosis, imaging, previous treatments and overall treatment plan.
Stomach cancer, also referred to as gastric cancer, develops in the stomach and is measured by how deep the cancer has spread into the 5 layers of the stomach wall and if there has been spread of disease to the adjacent lymph nodes. Stomach cancer sometimes requires radiation therapy following surgery. Depending on the stage of the tumor, the patient’s overall health status and the extent of surgery, proton therapy can be given concurrently with chemotherapy.
Rectal cancer develops in the final portion of the large intestine. Radiation therapy is commonly used for certain rectal cancers, often before surgery, after surgery or with chemotherapy. Depending on the stage of cancer, radiation therapy for these types of cancers is often given prior to or following surgery.
Anal cancer is typically a squamous cell carcinoma that arises at the exterior opening of the gastrointestinal tract. This type of cancer is most commonly treated with radiation therapy given concurrently with chemotherapy. Due to its location, chemoradiation is the primary treatment option, instead of surgery, and proton therapy can provide a less toxic radiation treatment that can reduce side effects and damage to surrounding tissues.
Colon cancer forms in your large intestine. Surgery is the most common treatment, especially in stage I and II when the cancer has not yet spread. Chemotherapy is also recommended in more advanced stages of cancer. Proton therapy can also be recommended to help control the cancer.
Treatment for
Recurrent Cancer
Proton therapy may be an important option for recurrent tumors, especially when the cancer is located in or near an area that has previously received radiation therapy.
Treating previously irradiated areas can be challenging, especially in the gastrointestinal area. A second round of X-ray radiation treatment could be too dangerous as the healthy tissues around the recurrent tumor do not fully “forget” the previous radiation dose, and any added dose continues to increase the risk of normal tissue injury. Proton beam therapy may enable doctors to better concentrate the dose to the target and limit it elsewhere, allowing re-treatment with radiation in select patients.
Treatment Outcomes &
Long-Term Effects
Proton therapy treatment at California Protons Cancer Therapy Center in San Diego may offer similar outcomes to standard X-ray radiation, while reducing long-term and potentially life-threatening side effects such as ulceration, perforation and internal bleeding due to radiation damage to the digestive tract and pelvis area. It may also lower chances for secondary cancers later in life due to the reduced radiation exposure to your surrounding healthy tissues and organs.
However, all cancer treatments have advantages and disadvantages. Be sure to discuss all of the potential risks, as well as treatment options, with your oncologist.
What to Expect During Proton Therapy for GI Cancer
Before treatment begins, your care team will review your diagnosis, imaging, prior treatments and overall health to determine whether proton therapy may be appropriate.
If proton therapy is recommended, treatment planning typically includes imaging scans to map the tumor or treatment area and nearby organs. This helps the care team design a personalized plan based on the tumor’s size, location, depth and relationship to surrounding healthy tissue.
Proton therapy is noninvasive and typically delivered in an outpatient setting. The exact treatment schedule depends on the type of gastrointestinal cancer, tumor location, treatment goals and whether proton therapy is being combined with chemotherapy, surgery or other treatments.
Request a Consultation with California Protons Cancer Therapy Center
Every gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis is different. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with stomach, colon, rectal, anal, recurrent or metastatic GI cancer, the team at California Protons Cancer Therapy Center can help review your case and determine whether proton therapy may be appropriate as part of your treatment plan.
During a consultation, the care team can review your diagnosis, imaging, prior treatments and treatment goals to help you understand your options. They can also answer questions about eligibility, referrals, insurance verification and next steps.
Request a consultation with California Protons Cancer Therapy Center in San Diego to learn whether proton therapy may be right for your gastrointestinal cancer treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Proton Therapy Better Than Traditional Radiation for Gastrointestinal Cancer?
Proton therapy may offer meaningful advantages for select GI cancer patients. Because proton beams stop at a specific depth, they can reduce radiation exposure to nearby healthy organs compared to traditional X-ray radiation. Whether proton therapy is appropriate depends on the cancer type, tumor location, stage and overall treatment plan.
What Types of Gastrointestinal Cancer Can Be Treated With Proton Therapy?
California Protons treats select GI cancers including stomach, colon, rectal and anal cancer, as well as recurrent or metastatic GI tumors when radiation is appropriate. Eligibility depends on the individual diagnosis and treatment goals.
How Long Does Proton Therapy Treatment Take?
Treatment length varies depending on cancer type, tumor location and whether proton therapy is combined with other treatments. Individual sessions are typically short and delivered in an outpatient setting, allowing most patients to return to daily activities the same day.
Can Proton Therapy Be Used If I Have Already Had Radiation?
In select cases, yes. Proton therapy may be an option for patients with recurrent cancer in a previously irradiated area. Because proton beams can be more precisely targeted, physicians may be able to deliver additional radiation to the tumor while limiting dose to surrounding healthy tissue. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
How Do I Know If I Am a Candidate for Proton Therapy?
A radiation oncologist at California Protons Cancer Therapy Center will evaluate your diagnosis, imaging, prior treatments and overall health to determine whether proton therapy is appropriate. Requesting a consultation with us is the first step.