Non-prostate Genitourinary Tumor and Radiotherapy

Genitourinary tumors include tumors originated from kidney, ureter, bladder, urethral, and genital organs. Retroperitoneal tumors are also included in this field. Treatment of prostate cancer, however, is much different and often discussed separately. Risk factors of these tumors are smoking, carcinogenic chemicals, and renal dialysis. Radical surgery is the first choice of the treatment. However, some patients need radiotherapy due to unsatisfactory surgical results or organ preservation therapy.

Proton therapy and Non-prostate Genitourinary Tumor

Conventional photon radiation therapy cannot confine the radiation doses to a limited area. Radiation doses may be scattered within the abdominal cavity and to critical organs including stomach, intestine, liver, and kidney. This will lead to unpleasant complications of the treatment. Besides, radiation may increase the risk of secondary cancer in young patients after treatment. Proton therapy has better radiation dose distribution than photon therapy. Compared with photon therapy, radiation doses delivered to normal organs can be reduced significantly. Thus, the risk of complications can be reduced. According to research from other proton therapy centers, proton therapy can significantly reduce radiation doses delivered to abdominal organs. Therefore, the risk of complications can be reduced. In consideration of a second cancer, proton therapy can reduce the risk from 4% (estimation of photon radiotherapy) to less than 1%.

Proton Therapy Clinical Study

Proton therapy is a novel treatment and the highest quality is required. Therefore, we hope that all patients can be treated as clinical studies. Clinical studies does not use a treatment that has never been used before. Instead, it is a standardized treatment that is carried out with strict rules in a careful manner to ensure the quality of the treatment. When patients are going to receive proton therapy, they will enter a prospective observation study. In addition to the treatment and monitoring procedures, other necessary examinations and quality of life questionnaires will also be provided. With such global surveillance, we can understand the proton therapy more and keep the highest quality of the treatment.

Proton Therapy Process

Proton therapy for genitourinary tract tumor stakes about 15-30 minutes a day, five days a week, for 4 to 7 weeks. Severity of side effects, including nausea and vomiting, among others, varies individually. Compared to photon radiotherapy, patients have a higher chance to maintain their good condition, and are more likely return to normal life earlier.

Of course, proton therapy may not be suitable for every patient with retroperitoneal tumor. For indications of proton therapy or other questions, we welcome you to discuss this with the medical staff in our department.

• Articles maintained by Dr. Wei-Heng Kao