The PROTECT trial tests the hypothesis that reducing the radiation dose to sensitive, normal tissue using protons (PT) leads to a lower rate of treatment-related lung complications in esophageal cancer compared to standard photon therapy (XT).
Aim of the study
The aim of this study is to investigate whether treatment with proton beams can reduce long-term side effects compared to conventional photon radiation in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Chemotherapy is carried out in parallel.
Who can take part?
Patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer
Procedure
Participating patients will be randomly assigned (by a computer) to one of two types of radiotherapy. Half of the patients will receive photon radiotherapy (group 1), the other half will receive proton therapy (group 2).The treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy will last 5 weeks, and 6-12 weeks later your tumor will be operated on.If you are assigned to group 1, radiotherapy and chemotherapy will be carried out at the University Hospital Zurich (USZ). If you are selected for proton therapy (group 2), all radiation treatments will be carried out at the Center for Proton Therapy at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen, AG. The accompanying chemotherapy and the subsequent operation will also be carried out at the USZ.
Compensation
None
Original study name
PROton versus photon therapy for esophageal cancer - a trimodal strategy (PROTECT) A multicenter international randomized phase III trial of neoadjuvant proton versus photon chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer
BASEC number
2022-01119
Financial support from
Aarhus University Hospital