Proton therapy for selected low grade glioma patients in the Netherlands

Weide, H.L. van der; Kramer, M.C.A.; Scandurra, D.; Eekers, D.B.P.; Klaver, Y.L.B.; Wiggenraad, R.G.J.; Romero, A.M.; Coremans, I.E.M.; Boersma, L.; Vulpen, M. van; Langendijk, J.A.; Dutch Soc Radiation Oncology NVRO

doi:doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2020.11.004

Persistent URL of this record https://hdl.handle.net/1887/3281915

View statistics

In Collections

This item can be found in the following collections:

Medicine / Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC)

Weide, H.L. van der; Kramer, M.C.A.; Scandurra, D.; Eekers, D.B.P.; Klaver, Y.L.B.; Wiggenraad, R.G.J.; ... ; Dutch Soc Radiation Oncology NVRO (2021)

Proton therapy for selected low grade glioma patients in the Netherlands

Article / Letter to editor

Proton therapy offers an attractive alternative to conventional photon-based radiotherapy in low grade glioma patients, delivering radiotherapy with equivalent efficacy to the tumour with less radiation exposure to the brain. In the Netherlands, patients with favourable prognosis based on tumour and patient characteristics can be offered proton therapy. Radiation-induced neurocognitive function decline is a major concern in these long surviving patients. Although level 1 evidence of superior clinical outcome with proton therapy is lacking, the Dutch National Health Care Institute concluded that there is scientific evidence to assume that proton therapy can have clinical benefit by reducing radiation-induced brain damage. Based on this decision, proton therapy is standard insured care for selected low grade glioma patients. Patients with other intracranial tumours can also qualify for proton therapy, based on the same criteria. In this paper, the evidence and considerations that led...Show moreProton therapy offers an attractive alternative to conventional photon-based radiotherapy in low grade glioma patients, delivering radiotherapy with equivalent efficacy to the tumour with less radiation exposure to the brain. In the Netherlands, patients with favourable prognosis based on tumour and patient characteristics can be offered proton therapy. Radiation-induced neurocognitive function decline is a major concern in these long surviving patients. Although level 1 evidence of superior clinical outcome with proton therapy is lacking, the Dutch National Health Care Institute concluded that there is scientific evidence to assume that proton therapy can have clinical benefit by reducing radiation-induced brain damage. Based on this decision, proton therapy is standard insured care for selected low grade glioma patients. Patients with other intracranial tumours can also qualify for proton therapy, based on the same criteria. In this paper, the evidence and considerations that led to this decision are summarised. Additionally, the eligibility criteria for proton therapy and the steps taken to obtain high-quality data on treatment outcome are discussed. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.Show less

Radiation-induced brain damage

Neurotoxicity