Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39966902›Full record

ArticleRadiation oncology (London, England)2025

Stereotactic body radiotherapy with carbon ions as local ablative treatment in patients with primary liver cancer.

Paula Hoffmeister-Wittmann, Philipp Hoegen-Saßmannshausen, Livia Wicklein, Fabian Weykamp, Katharina Seidensaal, Christoph Springfeld, Michael T Dill, Thomas Longerich, Peter Schirmacher, Arianeb Mehrabi and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Radiation oncology (London, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

15 authors.

Paula Hoffmeister-WittmannDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. paula.hoffmeister-wittmann@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
Philipp Hoegen-SaßmannshausenDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Livia WickleinDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Fabian WeykampDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Katharina SeidensaalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Christoph SpringfeldNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, a partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Michael T DillNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, a partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Thomas LongerichLiver Cancer Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Peter SchirmacherLiver Cancer Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Arianeb MehrabiLiver Cancer Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
René Michael MathyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Bruno C KöhlerNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, a partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Jürgen DebusDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Klaus HerfarthDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Jakob LiermannDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsLiver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related death due to treatment resistance and late onset of symptoms (Rumgay in J Hepatol 77: 1598-1606, 2022). The role of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in treatment of unresectable liver cancer needs to be defined. The use of particle therapy such as carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) with high linear energy transfer (LET) could increase efficacy of EBRT while limiting the toxic effects of radiation on non-cancerous liver tissue. Promising effects of CIRT have been described in several studies during the past decades, mostly in Japan. To date, no standardized treatment protocol has been established and European data on CIRT for liver cancer is lacking. This retrospective analysis aims to investigate efficacy and safety of hypofractionated CIRT compared to photon-based stereotactic body radiation (SBRT) in primary liver cancer.

methodThirty-six (n = 36) and twenty (n = 20) patients with primary malignant liver tumors were treated with hypofractionated CIRT (4 fractions) and photon-based SBRT, respectively, between 2011 and 2022 and were retrospectively evaluated for survival, local control, and toxicity.

resultsTwo-year local control rate after CIRT was 92.3%. Compared to photon- based SBRT, CIRT scores with a significantly longer median distant progression free survival (3.1 versus 0.9 years). In a matched pair comparison of the two treatment regimens, the CIRT cohort demonstrated both longer 2-year overall survival (100% versus 59.6%) and longer 2-year distant PFS (75.7% versus 22.9%). No significant impairment of liver function was observed in either cohort.

conclusionIn this retrospective analysis, patients who received CIRT presented excellent local tumor control and had better oncologic outcomes than patients who received photon-based SBRT. SBRT with carbon ions is a promising local ablative treatment option that needs further investigation in large prospective trials.

Indexed as

Heavy Ion RadiotherapyLiver NeoplasmsRadiosurgeryAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSurvival RateCarbon ion radiotherapyCholangiocarcinomaHepatocellular carcinomaHypofractionationLocal controlSBRT

Identifiers

PMID39966902
PMCPMC11834390

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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.