Proton therapy for low-grade glioma
Proton therapy for low-grade glioma
People with low-grade glioma, a slow-growing brain tumour, are often relatively young and may live for many years after treatment. For this reason, it is important not only to treat the tumour effectively, but also to consider the long-term effects of treatment. Radiotherapy plays a central role in the treatment of low-grade glioma, but it can also affect healthy brain tissue. This may lead to problems with cognitive functioning, such as memory, attention, processing speed, and planning, and may therefore also affect daily life and quality of life.
Proton therapy is a form of radiotherapy that can be delivered more precisely than conventional photon radiotherapy. As a result, the healthy tissue surrounding the tumour receives less radiation. This makes proton therapy particularly attractive for patients with a favourable prognosis, for whom reducing long-term side effects is especially important. At the same time, it is still not clear for which patients this advantage will lead to meaningful clinical benefit in everyday practice.
This thesis of Hiske van der Weide examines how proton therapy for adults with low-grade glioma can be introduced and evaluated responsibly within routine clinical care. It focuses on patient selection, follow-up, cognitive functioning before treatment, and early clinical outcomes after proton and photon radiotherapy.
The thesis shows that proton therapy is a promising treatment option for carefully selected patients. It also highlights that good data collection and long-term follow-up are essential to better understand which patients truly benefit from proton therapy, particularly when it comes to preserving cognitive functioning and quality of life.