by
Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor | February 09, 2016
From the January/February 2016 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
HCB News: Has growth in proton therapy centers kept up with expectations?
TK: We don’t have a target number, but we’re very encouraged by the growth we see ahead. There were only a handful of centers operating just a few years ago. Growth is strong with 20 centers now treating patients, and another 15 under construction or in development. This will offer many more patients access to this critical cancer treatment.
HCB News: What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing proton therapy today?
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TK: We need to build public knowledge about proton therapy so people will know to ask when they need it. In my short time with NAPT, I’ve heard the stories — even in my own family — where people haven’t even heard of proton therapy as a treatment option. It may not always be the best option for all patients, but they should at least have enough information to talk about it with their physicians. Along with that, we have to continue to develop the evidence supporting proton therapy treatment and to press for expanding commercial insurance coverage.
HCB News: Have there been any recent studies supporting the case for proton therapy?
TK: There are new papers coming out regularly that support the effectiveness and efficacy of proton therapy for a growing number of disease sites. In January, NAPT will be updating our Model Policy for Coverage of Proton Beam Therapy to include a number of these new studies. The big problem we have to work through is the stated need of the insurance companies for evidence-based on randomized clinical trials comparing proton therapy to other forms of treatment. This is a level of evidence that hasn’t been required for other types of radiation therapy and significant issues limit this kind of research. There is a potential dilemma for physicians to treat a patient with a therapy that they know will expose more healthy tissue to radiation than would occur with proton therapy. As well, a patient provided that same information will almost universally choose to be treated with proton therapy and refuse participation in a randomized trial.
HCB News: Is the U.S. leading the proton therapy push? Are there any other countries strongly advancing proton therapy?
TK: The U.S. is leading, but there’s growing interest globally. The UK is currently sending patients to the U.S. for proton therapy treatment, but they’ve recently made a big announcement that they will be building multiple centers to serve their patient population. China has a significant growing interest along with Japan. Germany and others are making advancements. There is a lot happening around the world.
