Phase 2 study of proton therapy and limited surgery for craniopharyngioma in children and adolescents

Compared with photon therapy, proton therapy reduces exposure of normal brain tissue in patients with craniopharyngioma. The phase 2 RT2CRtrial at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, TN) compared proton therapy and limited surgery for pediatric and adolescent craniopharyngoma patients versus an historical treated with photon therapy and surgery. Proton therapy did not improve survival outcomes compared with the historical cohort, and sever complication rates were similar, but cognitive outcomes with proton therapy were improved over photon therapy.