National Protocol for Model-Based Selection for Proton Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer.

In the Netherlands, the model-based approach is used to identify patients with head and neck cancer who may benefit most from proton therapy in terms of prevention of late radiation-induced side effects in comparison with photon therapy. To this purpose, a National Indication Protocol Proton therapy for Head and Neck Cancer patients (NIPP-HNC) was developed, which has been approved by the health care authorities. When patients qualify according to the guidelines of the NIPP-HNC, proton therapy is fully reimbursed. This article describes the procedures that were followed to develop this NIPP-HNC and provides all necessary information to introduce model-based selection for patients with head and neck cancer into routine clinical practice.
Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: J. A. Langendijk is Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committees of IBA and RaySearch; consultant for IBA, honorarium paid to UMCG Research BV. The department of Radiation Oncology has Research Agreement/Grant Support from Siemens, IBA, Elekta, Leonie, RaySearch, and Mirada.
(©Copyright 2021 The Author(s).)