Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27744643›Full record

ArticleIrish journal of medical science2017

Proton therapy in paediatric oncology: an Irish perspective.

K A Lee, C O'Sullivan, P Daly, J Pears, C Owens, B Timmermann, C Ares, S E Combs, D Indelicato, M Capra

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Irish journal of medical science, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Moyamoya syndrome after proton beam therapy in a pediatric patient with a pineal germ cell tumor and a germline polymorphism in RNF213.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2024
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.

K A LeeSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, Radiation Oncology, Dublin, Ireland. karla.lee@rmh.nhs.uk.
C O'SullivanSt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, Radiation Oncology, Dublin, Ireland.
P DalySt. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, Radiation Oncology, Dublin, Ireland.
J PearsOur Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Paediatic Oncology, Dublin, Ireland.
C OwensOur Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Paediatic Oncology, Dublin, Ireland.
B TimmermannDepartment of Radiation Sciences (DRS), Institute of Innovative Radiotherapy (iRT), HelmholtzZentrum Munchen (HMGU) Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
C AresPaul Scherrer Institute, Center for Proton Therapy, 5232, Villigen Psi, Switzerland.
S E CombsUniversitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
D IndelicatoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0385, USA.
M CapraOur Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Paediatic Oncology, Dublin, Ireland.
Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin · IEFlorida College · USHelmholtz Zentrum München · DEHôpital Beau-Séjour · CHUniversity Hospital Heidelberg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProton therapy (PT) is a radiotherapy treatment modality that uses protons, rather than conventional photons. PT is often used in paediatric oncology due to its reported capability to reduce acute and late adverse treatment effects. As PT is unavailable in Ireland, patients are referred abroad for treatment.

aimsTo: (1) produce a descriptive study of Irish children referred abroad for PT, and (2) discuss the case for PT in general.

methodsA retrospective review of all children referred for PT before October 2015 was performed. Information was gathered regarding demographics, diagnosis, referral timeline, adverse effects attributable to PT, current status and cost. A review of the relevant literature was performed.

resultsSeventeen children treated in Ireland have been referred abroad for PT. The largest number was in the 0-4 year old group. At initial diagnosis the median age was 4.8 years. The average cost per child was €37,312. Two patients suffered disease relapse. Four have encountered PT-related adverse effects.

conclusionDespite the fact that >100,000 patients worldwide have been treated with PT, the level of published evidence to support superiority over conventional treatment remains low. It is debated that randomised control trials in this area would be inconsistent with the principle of clinical equipoise. In contrast, there is a call for level 1 evidence to justify drastic changes in patient care, particularly in light of recent reports of unexpected toxicities. In time, careful evaluation, follow-up and clinical trials will likely support the preferential use of PT in children.

Indexed as

Child, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornIrelandMaleMedical OncologyProton TherapyRetrospective StudiesEthicsPaediatric oncologyParticle therapyProton beam therapyResearch methods

Identifiers

PMID27744643
OpenAlexW2531891215

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.