FM DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE - digital edition

Dr Jay Flanz,
Massachusetts General
Hospital, USA.
brain, the prostate, as well as cancers
in children, with the advantage that
healthy tissue and critical organs are
not harmed. It gives the patient a better
quality of life during and after treatment.
“First of all, in proton beam therapy,
no two machines are alike and the
system at every centre needs heavy
customisation, which is critical for the
efficient delivery of the therapy,” said Dr.
Ramesh Rengan, professor, Department
of Radiation Oncology, University of
Washington School of Medicine.
“More importantly, there was also
a substantial amount of thought that
was put into the aspect of the kind of
cancer patients present in this part of
the world, which is significantly different
from those in other regions,” Dr Rengan
added.
The two-day-long interactive
programme saw specialists from Austria,
Denmark, India, Sweden, Switzerland
Dr Tony Lomax,
Paul Sherrer Institute,
Switzerland
Dr Preetha Reddy,
Vice Chairperson,
Apollo Hospitals.
PHOTOS: UMESH GOSWAMI
THOUGH THERE ARE
UNCERTAINTIES ON
QUANTIFYING THE BENEFITS
OF PROTON THERAPY,
EXPERTS ARE OF THE VIEW
THAT PATIENTS EXPERIENCE
FEWER SIDE EFFECTS IN
GENERAL
and the US sharing their knowledge
on various aspects of proton therapy
technology and treatment, and an
overview of its application in clinical
practice.
Apollo’s proton therapy centre --
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) --
which will have a pencil beam scanning
facility -- one of the most advanced
proton therapy technologies -- is largely
in line with standards that are in practice
globally. Technical sessions on aspects of
testing and treatment were at par with
the latest technology trends in this area.
“The Proton Therapy Educational
Programme will help physicians and
oncologists understand the potential
of this new technology to treat cancer,”
said Dr Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson,
Apollo Hospitals.
“With the cancer burden in India
increasing day by day, we are glad
to be at the forefront in taking up
the challenge of providing the best
treatment option available in the world,”
she added. “It will be the first in South
East Asia and a major milestone in our
concerted focus to battle and conquer
cancer.”
Dr Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director
at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, said
proton therapy has “phenomenally
transformed” cancer therapy.
“It helps in treating tumours located
in especially difficult areas such as in the
head, the neck, the pancreas and the
prostate. It is very effective to control
and manage cancer while reducing
damage to vital organs and healthy
tissues due to the possibility of giving
higher doses of radiation,” he added.
Though there are issues like the
high cost of therapy and uncertainties
on quantifying the benefits of proton
therapy, experts are of the view
that patients experience fewer side
effects in general and, in certain cases,
have a lower chance of recurrence
due to the high dose delivered to the
tumour.
On issues such as the risk-benefit
ratio and the type of patients who
stand to benefit the most from the
treatment, Dr Rengan says: “Typically,
the best candidates for proton therapy
are children and adults with skull-based
tumours, tumours in and around the
spine, orbital and eye tumours.”
Patients with cancers of the head
and neck, oesophagus, pancreas and
hepatobiliary system, sarcomas and
certain breast cancer too have benefited
from the therapy, he said.
90 / FUTURE MEDICINE / DECEMBER 2018