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Invited Commentary
December 26, 2019

Proton-Based Chemoradiotherapy—What Level of Evidence Is Necessary to Justify Its Widespread Use?

Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
  • 2Center for Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(2):246-247. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.4875

In this issue of JAMA Oncology, Baumann et al1 present a large single-institution retrospective analysis of proton- vs photon-based radiotherapy specifically for patients receiving concurrent chemotherapy for 11 types of locally advanced cancers. Patients undergoing proton therapy overall had significantly fewer grade 3 toxic effects requiring hospitalization at 90 days, as well as fewer grade 2 toxic effects at 90 days and a smaller decline in performance status during treatment.

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1 Comment for this article
Inclusion of Spacer Shield Between Colon/Rectum and Prostate
Brian Sack, PhD | University of Pennsylvania
Did the subjects who were studied, particularly those treated with photon chemotherapy, have the injectable spacer shield between their colon/rectum and prostate? The use of this biodegradable shield has become standard practice for photon treatment of prostate cancer. Thank you.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None Reported
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