Carbon ion radiotherapy in gynaecological oncology: where we are and where we are headed

In the present brief report, the authors summarized the data on the use of carbon ion radiotherapy in gynaecological malignancies starting from the preclinical evidence to move forward the clinically available literature and hence focusing on the possible future application directions.

This is a short report of the published studies on the role of carbon ion radiotherapy in the treatment of gynaecological malignancies.

The use of carbon ion radiotherapy in rare and radioresistant gynaecological tumors is supported by preclinical and clinical data. In particular, carbon ion radiotherapy appears to be safe and effective in the management of cervical adenocarcinomas, unresectable endometrial cancers, mucosal melanomas of the lower genital tract and vulvar adenoid cystic carcinomas. Moreover, considering the dosimetric characteristics, carbon ions are suitable for recurrent disease in the pelvis. Prospective and phase II trials on gynaecological melanomas and pelvic relapses after radiotherapy are currently ongoing. The future study directions might be the oligometastatic diseases and the oncofertility.

More and more growing preclinical and clinical evidence supports the use of carbon ion radiotherapy in gynaecological oncology. Strong and multidisciplinary collaborations at national and international levels are desirable to better understand the therapeutic and organizational benefits of this new technology.