Results from the UK’s first proton beam therapy trial have been published this week in The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals.
The TORPEdO trial, co-led by The Christie, found that standard intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is as effective as proton beam therapy for treating oropharyngeal cancer, a type of throat cancer.
As part of the trial, researchers evaluated patient-reported outcomes, functional effects, disease control, and survival within a publicly funded healthcare system using modern radiotherapy techniques.
Professor David Thomson, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Christie and Chief Investigator of the trial, said: "These findings provide important randomised evidence to inform how advanced cancer technologies are evaluated and used in clinical practice, with implications for health policy. Long-term outcomes with IMRT were very good and matched proton beam therapy. We are extremely grateful to the patients and multidisciplinary teams who made this trial possible.
"IMRT is widely available and delivers excellent patient outcomes. Proton beam therapy also plays an important role in cancer care. The treatment is standard of care for several groups, including children and young adults, as well as select other adult indications. Ongoing research continues to improve our understanding of which patients benefit most."
Tex's story
Tex Leece, a 52-year-old father of 2 from Bolton, is still cancer-free after being treated for oropharyngeal (throat) cancer. He had IMRT as part of the TORPEdO trial
"I was able to walk my daughter, Holly, down the aisle just six weeks after having my treatment, which was amazing, Tex says. "Nearly 6 years on, I’m still doing really well and am very active."
The TORPEdO study involved 20 UK centres and was funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) with additional support from The Taylor Family Foundation.