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Cancer in Thailand and Proton Therapy

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Thailand and is among the top causes of death worldwide. The five most common types of cancer in Thailand are liver and bile duct cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia, according to the National Cancer Institute's statistics in 2024. Annually, approximately 140,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed, and around 83,000 people succumb to the disease.

Radiation therapy has been a continuously evolving treatment for cancer patients. Proton therapy, a highly effective and less invasive treatment option, is now available. King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, initiated preparations for this service in 2014. This marked the first proton therapy center in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The center was graciously named "Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Proton Center" by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Her Royal Highness has been a strong supporter of this initiative and recognizes the importance of comprehensive cancer care in Thailand, aiming to elevate the standards of cancer treatment to be more effective, safer, and aligned with international standards.

Protons, obtained from a cyclotron particle accelerator, can be precisely directed to target cancer cells more accurately than conventional radiation. This minimizes radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, both in front of and behind the tumor, resulting in fewer side effects. Proton therapy is particularly suitable for treating cancers located near critical organs or organs that are sensitive to radiation, such as tumors at the base of the skull, sinuses, or liver. This innovative treatment can be administered to patients of all ages, especially children, as excessive radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues during conventional radiation therapy can adversely affect a child's growth and development.

On 20^th June 2019, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the installation of the cyclotron at the "Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Proton Center". Since August 2021, the center has been providing treatment to patients since its opening, with a total of over 865 patients treated to date (as of May 31, 2024). The top three most common types of cancer treated at the center are liver cancer, head and neck cancer, and brain cancer. 90% of the patients are Thai, while the remaining 10% are international patients.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Proton Center at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment technology in Thailand and the ASEAN region. The hospital aspires to establish this center as a model for proton therapy in Southeast Asia, providing the best and most accessible treatment for all patients.

Benefits of Proton Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Proton therapy offers significant advantages in cancer treatment. Supported by numerous research studies, it is considered a highly effective and safe treatment option, with its applications spanning a wide range of cancer types.

Based on the ASTRO Model Policies 2017 and JASTRO 2017, cancer types that have demonstrated benefits from proton therapy can be categorized into two groups:

1. Cancer types with established benefits of proton therapy:

• Pediatric Tumors
• Base of Skull Tumors
• Brain and Spinal Tumors
• Ocular Tumors
• Head and Neck Cancers
• Hepatocellular Cancer
• Soft Tissue Sarcomas
• Prostate Cancer
• Re-Irradiation

2. Cancer types with ongoing studies to confirm the benefits of proton therapy:

• Lung and Mediastinal Tumors
• Gastrointestinal Malignancies (including Esophageal Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, and Biliary Cancers)
• Rectal and Anal Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Breast Cancer

Cancer in Thailand and Proton Therapy

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Thailand and is among the top causes of death worldwide. The five most common types of cancer in Thailand are liver and bile duct cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia, according to the National Cancer Institute's statistics in 2024. Annually, approximately 140,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed, and around 83,000 people succumb to the disease.

Radiation therapy has been a continuously evolving treatment for cancer patients. Proton therapy, a highly effective and less invasive treatment option, is now available. King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, initiated preparations for this service in 2014. This marked the first proton therapy center in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The center was graciously named "Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Proton Center" by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Her Royal Highness has been a strong supporter of this initiative and recognizes the importance of comprehensive cancer care in Thailand, aiming to elevate the standards of cancer treatment to be more effective, safer, and aligned with international standards.

Protons, obtained from a cyclotron particle accelerator, can be precisely directed to target cancer cells more accurately than conventional radiation. This minimizes radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, both in front of and behind the tumor, resulting in fewer side effects. Proton therapy is particularly suitable for treating cancers located near critical organs or organs that are sensitive to radiation, such as tumors at the base of the skull, sinuses, or liver. This innovative treatment can be administered to patients of all ages, especially children, as excessive radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues during conventional radiation therapy can adversely affect a child's growth and development.

On 20^th June 2019, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the installation of the cyclotron at the "Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Proton Center". Since August 2021, the center has been providing treatment to patients since its opening, with a total of over 865 patients treated to date (as of May 31, 2024). The top three most common types of cancer treated at the center are liver cancer, head and neck cancer, and brain cancer. 90% of the patients are Thai, while the remaining 10% are international patients.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Proton Center at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment technology in Thailand and the ASEAN region. The hospital aspires to establish this center as a model for proton therapy in Southeast Asia, providing the best and most accessible treatment for all patients.

Benefits of Proton Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Proton therapy offers significant advantages in cancer treatment. Supported by numerous research studies, it is considered a highly effective and safe treatment option, with its applications spanning a wide range of cancer types.

Based on the ASTRO Model Policies 2017 and JASTRO 2017, cancer types that have demonstrated benefits from proton therapy can be categorized into two groups:

1. Cancer types with established benefits of proton therapy:

• Pediatric Tumors
• Base of Skull Tumors
• Brain and Spinal Tumors
• Ocular Tumors
• Head and Neck Cancers
• Hepatocellular Cancer
• Soft Tissue Sarcomas
• Prostate Cancer
• Re-Irradiation

2. Cancer types with ongoing studies to confirm the benefits of proton therapy:

• Lung and Mediastinal Tumors
• Gastrointestinal Malignancies (including Esophageal Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, and Biliary Cancers)
• Rectal and Anal Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Breast Cancer