Take you to the Japanese proton therapy "guide" hospital and learn about the proton therapy process!

Non-invasive, painless, patients only need to lie on the bed, receive irradiation, can accurately "blast" tumor cells; Each treatment process does not exceed 30 minutes, after the end of the treatment, the patient can leave, does not affect daily life, the side effects of treatment are greatly reduced.
.
.

This therapy is proton therapy!

In fact, the efficacy of proton therapy for solid tumors has been verified by many studies to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy while reducing the side effects
of radiotherapy.

▲Proton therapy machine, source: University of Tsukuba Hospital Proton Therapy Center

Japan Proton Therapy "Guide" Hospital

University of Tsukuba Hospital

At present, Japan has one of the largest number of dedicated facilities for advanced proton therapy in the world, and it has a wealth of
treatment experience.

Among them, the University of Tsukuba in Japan officially launched clinical research on proton therapy as early as 1983, and has the longest history of proton therapy in Japan, with outstanding treatment results
.

The Proton Therapy Center at the University of Tsukuba Hospital in Japan is the first in the world to use proton therapy for cancers that occur deep in the body, such as liver cancer, and related treatment methods have become international standards
.
In 2005, a large-scale retrospective study led by Professor Hideyuki Sakurai, director of the Proton Therapy Center at the University of Tsukuba Hospital, pointed out that the five-year local control rate (LC) of proton therapy for liver cancer reached 87%, which clarified the safety and effect of proton therapy for liver cancer, laid the foundation for proton therapy, and continuously promoted the development of
proton therapy for liver cancer.

▲Source: Reference source[2]

In addition, the Proton Therapy Center of the University of Tsukuba Hospital has outstanding achievements
in the field of proton therapy for children's tumors.
In April 2021, Professor Hideyuki Sakurai as the lead author and jointly developed with the Japanese Society of Radiation Oncology (JASTRO) and the Japanese Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (JSPHO) released "Proton Therapy for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: JASTRO and JSPHO Guidelines", the latest proton therapy guidelines for children, adolescents, and young adults developed in Japan, clarifying the results and characteristics of proton therapy (PBT) in cancer treatment in children, adolescents, and young adults (AYAs).

。 Recommended reading: Japan released the latest version of the "Proton Therapy Guidelines for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults" to clarify the characteristics and advantages of proton therapy for cancer

▲Source: Reference source[3]

As of the end of October 2022, the Proton Therapy Center of the University of Tsukuba Hospital in Japan has treated 7,056 cancer patients, of which the largest number is liver cancer (1,962), followed by prostate cancer (1,362), lung cancer (658), metastatic tumor (638), and pediatric tumor (576).

Indications for proton therapy

As a local treatment, most of the indications for proton heavy ion are solid tumors that have not metastasized, including brain tumors (skull base), head and neck tumors (sarcoma), mediastinal tumors (early esophageal cancer), lung cancer (non-small cells), renal pelvis cancer/ureteral cancer/bladder cancer, liver cancer (single/located in adjacent areas), pancreatic cancer, rectal cancer, pelvic recurrence, prostate cancer and other tumors, proton heavy ion therapy
can be performed.

It is worth mentioning that proton heavy ion therapy is very suitable for pediatric tumor patients (especially children with brain tumors, which can greatly reduce the radioactive deposition of radiotherapy, well control the radiation dose of key brain regions in children, and benefit the subsequent growth and development of children) and patients
who cannot be operated.

The flow of proton therapy

The specific process is:

If you wish to undergo proton therapy, you need to provide detailed medical records and imaging data of the patient, and the attending physician will determine whether the patient is suitable for proton therapy according to the condition and physical condition (patients who go to Japan through the Ark of Magnolia can directly make an appointment with Professor Hideyuki Sakurai of the Proton Therapy Center of the University of Tsukuba Hospital for consultation and treatment.
And HOPU Ark provides 1-on-1 medical consultation and translation throughout the process).

Consultation is conducted on the day of the initial consultation, and physical examinations are scheduled as needed
.
At the first consultation, briefly explain the condition and treatment method, and make a comprehensive judgment
according to the patient's condition.

Then, when the proton ray is irradiated, a special fixed mold
suitable for each human body type is made in order not to deviate from the irradiation position.
After making the fixed mold, install it for the patient, and take CT images to make a treatment plan
.
Based on the CT images, the attending physician and medical physicist calculate the angle, depth, dose, etc.
of proton irradiation, and formulate a specific and thorough treatment plan
.
In order to concentrate the proton rays on the tumor, the Proton Therapy Center of the University of Tsukuba Hospital provides treatment with irradiation equipment
such as "Bolus molds" that adapt to the depth of the lesion and "collimators" that can determine the shape and contour of the lesion.

Prior to treatment, doctors, medical physicists, radiographers and nurses meet in plenary to discuss and determine treatment plans and protocols
.
At the same time, information about the treatment plan and the patient's condition is discussed at the daily morning meeting
.

After a certain amount of preparation time, proton therapy
is started.
During the treatment period, Monday through Friday, please go to the hospital every day for proton ray irradiation (no hospitalization required).

The number of irradiations and the length of treatment vary depending on each patient's condition
.

The patient goes to the irradiation room
with doctors, technicians, and nurses.
First, X-rays are used to confirm the position to ensure accurate irradiation of the proton rays
.
To irradiate the proton line, the Bolus mold and collimator are placed at the radiation port
.
Combined with the time to determine the position, the treatment time is about 15~30 minutes, and the irradiation time is about
1~3 minutes per dose.
There is no pain
during irradiation.

Then, after the proton therapy is over, the attending physician will follow up and follow up according to the instructions of the referring
party's doctor.
Once every three months, the treatment process and examination results are reviewed at the outpatient clinic of the Proton Therapy Center of the University of Tsukuba Hospital in Japan
.

After the treatment, the proton therapy center of the University of Tsukuba Hospital in Japan will be followed up for observation within 5 years, and professional doctors will provide advice, and receive consultation and questions
at any time.

HOPU ARK has long-term and in-depth cooperation with the University of Tsukuba Hospital, and Professor Hideyuki Sakurai, as a world-recognized authoritative expert in proton therapy, has worked with HOPU Ark for many years to provide one-stop overseas medical services of "good, fast and provincial", bringing more treatment options and hopes
to domestic cancer patients.
To learn more about the acceptance of Chinese cancer patients at the Proton Therapy Center of the University of Tsukuba Hospital, or for patients who need to travel to Japan for proton therapy, please call the hotline 400-081-6600 or add WeChat DrHopeNoah for consultation
.

Reference source:

[1] について|をおえのへ University of Tsukuba University Hospital センター

style="box-sizing: border-box;" _msthash="320103" _msttexthash="37315603">[2] Chiba T, Tokuuye K, Matsuzaki Y, Sugahara S, Chuganji Y, Kagei K, Shoda J, Hata M, Abei M, Igaki H, Tanaka N, Akine Y.
Proton beam therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective review of 162 patients.
Clin Cancer Res.
2005 May 15; 11(10):3799-805.
doi: 10.
1158/1078-0432.
CCR-04-1350.
PMID: 15897579.

[3] Mizumoto, Masashi et al.
“Proton beam therapy for children and adolescents and young adults (AYAs): JASTRO and JSPHO Guidelines.
” Cancer treatment reviews, vol.
98 102209.
16 Apr.
2021, doi:10.
1016/j.
ctrv.
2021.
102209.

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