Understanding brain tumors and the
role of proton therapy.

As a rule, primary brain tumors start in the brain and stay in the brain, although they may sometimes spread to other regions of the brain or spine. Most brain tumors are benign, and usually arise from the meninges (layers of tissue that cover the brain), from nerve sheaths, or from the pituitary gland. Malignant brain tumors generally begin in the glial cells or astrocytes (neuronal supportive tissues) and are called astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma. These tumors can vary in their malignancy, from grade I (best prognosis) to grade IV (worst prognosis). Lymphoma and ependymoma are other tumor types that can appear in the brain.

By using proton therapy for brain cancer treatment, physicians at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute can successfully treat brain tumors with the potential for fewer side effects.

The delicate nature of brain tissue makes precise cancer treatment vitally important. The use of proton therapy for brain cancer treatment delivers powerful doses of radiation to the brain tumor, with minimal effect on surrounding healthy tissue.

While brain tumors may be treated with surgical removal, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, a combination of these treatments is often used. Surgery may be recommended to remove as much of the tumor as possible, but most brain tumors are not cured by surgery alone and may require radiation therapy to eradicate remaining of the cancer cells.

The promise of proton therapy for brain cancer treatment.

In these cases, proton therapy is an ideal choice for treating brain tumors. Different brain tumors require different doses of radiation to control them. Like any other organ in the body, the brain can tolerate a limited amount of radiation. Because high doses of radiation can damage normal tissue, image-based radiation planning is used to deliver high doses to the tumor with the lowest possible dose to the surrounding tissue. With proton therapy, highly precise beams of protons eliminate the "exit doses" characteristic of traditional radiation treatments, so the protons are released only at the site of the cancer. This means that higher - and potentially more effective - doses of radiation can be used to eliminate the brain cancer, without causing damage to other parts of the brain.

Ready to learn more about proton therapy for brain cancer treatment? Contact the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute today.