Advances In Heavy Particle Beam Radiotherapy For Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Radiotherapy is an important method of comprehensive cancer treatment.Currently,photons are the mainstream radiation therapy particle beam for locally advanced rectal cancer.However,most of endangered organs are exposed to radiation because of the physical characteristics of the photon beam,resulting in a higher incidence of acute and chronic toxic reactions.Which limits the compliance of patients,and reduces the patient’s quality of life after treatment.Recently,heavy particle beam radiotherapy technology including protons and carbon ions has developed rapidly.The superior physical and biological properties of heavy particle beams enable heavy particle beam radiotherapy to reduce the incidence of acute and chronic toxic side effects of the endangered organs,and gain the obvious advantages in Re-irradiation after recurrence.Heavy particle radiotherapy provides more options for the treatment of rectal cancer patients after initial treatment and recurrence.We summarized the relevant research on the application of heavy particles in radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer,and analyzed the advantages and the problems that need to be solved urgently.