The evidence for the value of particle therapy (PT) is still sparse. While randomized trials remain a cornerstone for robust comparisons with photon-based radiotherapy, data registries collecting real-world data can play a crucial role in building evidence for new developments. This Perspective describes how the European Particle Therapy Network (EPTN) is actively working on establishing a prospective data registry encompassing all patients undergoing PT in European centers. Several obstacles and hurdles are discussed, for instance harmonization of nomenclature and structure of technical and dosimetric data and data protection issues. A preferred approach is the adoption of a federated data registry model with transparent and agile governance to meet European requirements for data protection, transfer, and processing. Funding of the registry, especially for operation after the initial setup process, remains a major challenge.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádory radioterapie MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- protonová terapie MeSH
- registrace * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- úvodníky MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
BACKGROUND: We performed a survey using the modified EORTC Facility questionnaire (pFQ) to evaluate the human, technical and organizational resources of particle centers in Europe. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The modified pFQ consisted of 235 questions distributed in 11 sections accessible on line on an EORTC server. Fifteen centers from 8 countries completed the pFQ between May 2015 and December 2015. RESULTS: The average number of patients treated per year and per particle center was 221 (range, 40-557). The majority (66.7%) of centers had pencil beam or raster scanning capability. Four (27%) centers were dedicated to eye treatment only. An increase in the patients-health professional FTE ratio was observed for eye tumor only centers when compared to other centers. All centers treated routinely chordomas/chondrosarcomas, brain tumors and sarcomas but rarely breast cancer. The majority of centers treated pediatric cases with particles. Only a minority of the queried institutions treated non-static targets. CONCLUSIONS: As the number of particle centers coming online will increase, the experience with this treatment modality will rise in Europe. Children can currently be treated in these facilities in a majority of cases. The majority of these centers provide state of the art particle beam therapy.
- MeSH
- chondrosarkom radioterapie MeSH
- chordom radioterapie MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- elementární částice terapeutické užití MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádory kostí farmakoterapie MeSH
- nádory mozku radioterapie MeSH
- nádory oka radioterapie MeSH
- protonová terapie přístrojové vybavení metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- protony MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- radioterapie těžkými ionty přístrojové vybavení metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- uhlík chemie terapeutické užití MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
