A study by the Jacksonville group. Seventeen patients with nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma underwent double-scattered proton therapy. With the median follow-up of 3.0 years, the study reported the overall survival, progression-free survival, and local control rates were 100%. Serious late side effects included cataract (n = 1), esophageal stenosis requiring dilation (n = 1), sensorineural hearing loss requiring aids (n = 1), and hormone deficiency (n = 5, including three with isolated hypothyroidism).

This study concluded that following induction chemotherapy, moderate-dose proton therapy can potentially reduce toxicity in the brain and skull base region without compromising disease control.