A Phase 2 interventional study of Proton Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer, Breast Neoplasm and Breast Tumor, sponsored by Proton Collaborative Group. Recruiting at 9 sites in United States. Open to female participants aged 50 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-29.
Sponsored by Proton Collaborative Group · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this research study is to compare the effects (good and bad) on women and their cancer using proton radiation therapy.
This study is being done to see if proton radiation therapy will prove to be beneficial for women with early stage breast cancer. A clinical study is necessary to compare the results (good or bad) of proton radiation therapy.
Current standard of care for early stage breast cancer is mastectomy or breast conserving therapy with whole breast irradiation following lumpectomy. However, studies of breast cancer recurrence have demonstrated the majority of tumors to recur in or adjacent to the original tumor site. The question has thus been raised as to whether radiation to the whole breast is necessary or justified. Limiting radiation to the area of the original tumor may reduce acute and long-term skin and organ toxicities while making radiation therapy more convenient and less expensive. Several clinical trials are underway comparing partial breast irradiation (PBI) to whole breast irradiation. Numerous centers are offering partial breast irradiation outside of clinical trials as well, despite the lack of long-term safety and efficacy data on PBI.
Available PBI methods include brachytherapy, in which catheters or balloons are surgically inserted to deliver radiation therapy to the lumpectomy cavity, and conventional external beam radiation therapy, or EBRT. External beam photon therapy is attractive for its non-invasive nature and ability to deliver a more homogenous dose distribution compared to brachytherapy, however it also delivers a greater radiation dose to surrounding normal breast tissue.Proton therapy has the capacity to provide the same advantages as photon EBRT while minimizing dose to normal surrounding tissue. Clinical data on PBI with protons is minimal, however, leaving many questions unanswered. The impetus behind this protocol is to address these gaps by further investigating the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of proton therapy for partial breast irradiation.
If image guidance with daily cone beam CT with direct physician visual assessment is used for treatment positioning, the presence of markers or clips in the surgical bed is recommended but not required. If cone beam CT imaging will NOT be used for image guidance, then the patient must be prepared to have 2 fiducial markers minimum, 3 preferred, placed prior to treatment (if not previously done).
Exclusion Criteria:
Proton Radiotherapy 4.0 Gy (RBE) x10 fractions to 40 Gy (RBE) Total Dose
Radiation: Proton Radiotherapy
To assess events of freedom from ipsilateral breast recurrence occurrences in patients receiving partial breast proton radiation therapy limited to the region of the tumor.
Freedom from failure (FFF): The events for FFF will be the first ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence. It is expected that less than 3% of patients will experience an ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence (FFF ≥ 97%). A recurrence rate of ≥ 10% (FFF ≤ 90%) is considered unacceptable. Therefore, the null hypothesis is the FFF of ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence is 90% or lower and the alternative hypothesis is that FFF of ipsilateral breast cancer is 97% or higher.
Time frame: At 3 years
Assess number and severity of acute and long-term toxicity of partial breast irradiation using proton therapy for the treatment of early stage breast cancer.
Time frame: On average every 6 months for life
To assess relationship between breast size and partial breast dosimetry.
Time frame: Average every 6 months for 3 years
Determine quality of life results.
Time frame: Average every 6 months for 3 years
To determine overall survival rate of patients with breast cancer treated with proton radiation.
Time frame: At 3 years
To determine recurrence pattern of patients with breast cancer treated with proton partial breast irradiation.
Time frame: At 3 years
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
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Proton Collaborative Group