Some patients with head and neck cancer may develop a tumor recurrence in an area that has already been treated with radiotherapy. In these situations, surgery is not always possible, and giving radiotherapy again can be challenging because nearby healthy tissues and organs may already have received high radiation doses.
The REPROton-HN study is evaluating the use of proton therapy for these patients. Proton therapy is a type of radiation treatment that can deliver radiation more precisely to the tumor while reducing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
The aim of the study is to better understand how safe and effective proton therapy is when used as a second course of radiation treatment. Researchers will monitor side effects, tumor control, survival, and patients' quality of life. The results may help improve treatment planning and identify which patients are most likely to benefit from proton therapy in the future.