Head and neck cancers: reporting indications and results of hadrontherapy of a dual beam facility

To review experience and indications for head and neck (HN) tumors at our center in relation to the published literature.

HN cancer patients treated at our center either with protons (PT) or carbon ions (CIRT) were extracted from our institutional retrospective and longitudinal Registry (NCT05203250 REGAL), including all the patients treated since the beginning of our clinical activity. A literature search was conducted with selection of most representative published studies for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), mucosal melanoma (MM), sinonasal cancers (SNCs) and reirradiations.

Since the beginning of the clinical activity in 2011, 1311 HN tumors have been treated a tour center. Majority of treated patients were ACC (52%), non-ACC salivary gland tumors (18%), paranasal sinuses tumors (9%), MM (7%), and reirradiation of recurrent tumors after previous RT (14%). Oncological outcome in terms of safety and efficacy has been published on the series of 184 ACC and 40 MM, both treated with CIRT in the years 2013–2020. Reviewed reirradiation published series included a cohort of 52 recurrent salivary gland tumors retreated with CIRT from 2013 to 2016, and the experience of 2013–2020 of retreatment of 15 SNCs (13 with CIRT and 2 with PT).

HN tumors are major indications for particle treatment around the world and at our center. Particle treatment might be personalized for each patient, with CIRT indicated for radioresistant tumors such as ACC and MM. Data on oncologic outcomes of CIRT at our center are consistent with published series.