Impact of dose and dose-averaged linear energy transfer on oro-pharyngeal-mucosal toxicity in patients with non-squamous head and neck cancers treated with carbon-ion radiotherapy
Recent Publication
Carbon ion therapy, a particularly precise form of radiotherapy, is increasingly being used to treat certain head and neck tumours. Researchers, including experts from MedAustron, have investigated why some patients later develop severe damage to the mucous membrane in the mouth and throat. The team analysed the treatment data of 51 people and examined which radiation doses and energy distributions lead to a higher risk. The analysis showed that if sensitive areas of the mucosa receive too high a dose, the probability of late complications increases significantly. A special sparing procedure ("mucosa-sparing") was able to noticeably reduce the burden on healthy tissue without worsening tumour control. It was also shown that not only the dose itself, but also the distribution of the radiation energy (LET) plays an important role.
Nachankar, A., Gora, J., Schafasand, M., Fuß, M., Hug, E., Carlino, A., Lütgendorf-Caucig, C., Stock, M., & Fossati, P. (2026). Impact of dose and dose-averaged linear energy transfer on oro-pharyngeal-mucosal toxicity in patients with non-squamous head and neck cancers treated with carbon-ion radiotherapy. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 214, 111314. Article 111314. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2025.111314
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Piero Fossati MD
Head of
Department of Radiation Oncology with an emphasis on Particle Therapy
Univ.-Prof. PD DI Markus Stock PhD
Head of
Department of Medical Physics with an emphasis on Particle Therapy