A recent study by the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology showed that proton therapy is the most effective treatment for prostate cancer. This study reported very effective outcomes for low, intermediate and high risk patients with prostate cancer. It also demonstrated minimal toxicity to the healthy tissues surrounding the prostate resulting in excellent patient-reported outcomes with limited side effects. Five-year disease free survival rates were 99%, 99%, and 76% in low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients, respectively. This compares to rates of 97%, 85%, and 67% reported from a five-year study conducted by Memorial Sloan Kettering using IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy).
The University of Florida study is based on physician-reported and patient-reported outcomes, and it adds convincingly to a large body of evidence regarding the efficacy and unique advantages of proton therapy for prostate cancer. At the same time, this report debunks the one or two widely reported studies that used sub-standard procedures and surrogate data to draw flawed conclusions.
Proton Therapy side effects were reported to be minimal. Gastrointestinal and urologic side effects were 1% and 5.4% respectively. An earlier study claimed that proton therapy may be more toxic than IMRT. This study shows that claim to be false.
You can see the complete study at the following link: http://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(13)03310-5/abstract