Open AccessSurgical spacer placement and proton radiotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Shohei Komatsu,
Yoshiaki Hori,
Takumi Fukumoto,
Masao Murakami,
Yoshio Hishikawa,
Yonson Ku
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v16.i14.1800
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , radiation therapy , proton therapy , radiology , curative treatment , oncology , disease
Few potentially curative treatment options exist apart from hepatic resection for patients with huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Proton radiotherapy is a promising new modality which has an inherent anti-tumor effect against HCC. However, the application of proton radiotherapy for tumors adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract is restricted because the tolerance dose of the intestine is extremely low. A novel two-step treatment was developed with surgical spacer placement and subsequent proton radiotherapy to administer proton radiotherapy with curative intent. This report presents a case of a patient with a huge unresectable HCC treated by this method who achieved disease-free survival of more than 2 years. This new strategy may potentially be an innovative and standard therapy for unresectable HCC in the near future.