Evaluation of Radiobiological Effects in Skin Toxicities for Head and Neck Cancer Patients With Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy
Covenant Health Cancer Center
Summary
This purpose of this study is to examine skin reactions (called radiation dermatitis) that occur during pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy. The researchers will test a unique technique called "Spot Delete" to see if it can reduce skin reactions for head \& neck patients treated with PBS. The investigators will also use a special computer model to study how the energy of the proton beam (linear energy transfer) is related to these skin reactions. The study involves creating a treatment plan based on a CT scan, which helps guide the proton beam in the body.
Description
This purpose of this study is to examine skin reactions (called radiation dermatitis) that occur during pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy. The researchers will test a unique technique called "Spot Delete" to see if it can reduce skin reactions for head \& neck patients treated with PBS. The investigators will also use a special computer model to study how the energy of the proton beam (linear energy transfer) is related to these skin reactions. The study involves creating a treatment plan based on a CT scan, which helps guide the proton beam in the body. The clinical team uses this CT…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * The patient must consent to be in the study and must have signed an approved consent form conforming to federal and institutional guidelines. * Patients must be ≥ 18 years old. * Patient must have biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma, originating in the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, or hypopharynx * Carcinoma of the neck of unknown primary site origin may be included if p16 positive * Clinical stage T1-2, N0-1, N2a-N3 or T3-4, any N (AJCC, 7th ed.), including no distant metastases * Patient can have prior surgical resection of a primary cancer in the hea…
Interventions
- RadiationSpot Delete
The treatments plans will utilize the scripted spot delete method to remove spots from the skin rind. To ensure all relevant skin spots are removed, the "SkinSpots" structure will be a 0.5 cm rind extending inward from the skin contour within 5 cm of the CTV. Spots will be removed from this structure and optimization will continue. Optimization objectives will be utilized to spare the skin rind structure during treatment planning, in addition to deleting spots.
Location
- Thompson Proton CenterKnoxville, Tennessee