Heavy particle therapy is still the pilot phase of the human body

Following the Hon Hai Group Chairman Terry Gou contributions to the National Taiwan University, 15 billion yuan to help build cancer treatment center and a proton center, Evergreen Group Chairman Chang Yung-fa, also announced a few days ago will provide 200 million U.S. dollars, the introduction of Japan's heavy particle radiation in medical technology, the benefit of more cancer patients. 
Heavy particle radiotherapy for that? At present, radiation therapy with the use of X-ray What is the difference? Heavy particle radiation therapy requires entities charged particles (such as carbon, helium elements) into the accelerator, the by accelerated carbon elements or helium to the tumor cells, the annihilation of cancer cells, like depth charges, in the deep seabed Department blasting, to kill a target, but although less traveled path traces left, they are inevitably burst Department also suffered some normal tissue affected. 
Try for the skull base and soft tissue tumors 
Although the heavy particle radiation therapy has been the development of more than 12 years of history, but so far only two countries, Japan and Germany have more cases, but the number of subjects less than 3,000 people ill in Japan since 1994, the use of the therapy, but so far treated more than 2,000 patients; Germany has only 300 patients, mainly directed against the skull base and soft tissue tumors of patients, and conventional radiation therapy to be ineffective when applicable. 
Japan and Germany as a result of the data provided by the use of tumor in the body still inadequate, so the previous Journal of Clinical Oncology published an article pointed out that the treatment of heavy particles are still human experimental stage, to enter into clinical use is still a long way to go. Mainly due to the treatment of heavy particles with a high biological effect (RBE) features, even if it is to kill cancer cells months, and tumor-phase (or within) the normal tissue will be harmed. But also because it has this feature, coupled with the cost, so 10 over the past few years have not been able to have a good break, so non-current mainstream of Radiation Oncology.

Characteristics of the effectiveness of radiation therapy at stake 
In fact, the world did not tumor radiation therapy, and only can not afford normal tissue radiation injury, 
Normal tissue damage is radiation therapy inherent limitations. 
To improve the existing radiation therapy (X-ray) effects may be by two ways: First, physical characteristics, one biological characteristics; physical characteristics is the beam (X-ray) the scope of penetration, and some way to radiation show, some only in the target area to reach the highest dose injection, to wipe out the cancerous cells, the tumor with no or only a small number of rear radiation dose residual avoid harm normal tissues, simply put, is to fire on the tumor cells will be injured to other normal cells less likely. 
As for biological characteristics and radiotherapy unit is the distance of energy intensity. For example, children playing 100 fist hit by the strength of the fist will not lethal, but those forces will be set by the adults and hit a solid will be fatal; children hit boxing like X-ray or proton radiation therapy, exposure to the energy than the loose, and the adults like a boxing heavy particle therapy, a more intensive dose injection, relative to the destructive as well. Simply put, the treatment of heavy particles that can be punched interrupted two of DNA cells, resulting in cell death. 
Fear of hurting too heavy hand of normal cells 
Perhaps we might ask: Using heavy blow on the annihilation of the cancerous cells, so that it never stand up, not very good? Yes, the ideal state should be so, but do not think that a cancer is not normal cells, if even the good cells along with the killing, and that the original tumor cells in patients with organization will never recover. 
To oral cancer as an example, if a person has left the mouth of tumor cells to radiation therapy is currently available to maintain the integrity of the left side of the mouth; if treatment because of heavy particles are killing even the normal tissue, so the left side of the mouth may not be able to form healing wounds, the impact of the functional appearance. 
Radiation therapy to cancer mainly of local governance 
In other words, the existing radiation therapy, treatment can be divided into several times (such as 30-40 times), so that restoration of normal tissue strong force could be restored, resulting in the difference with cancer. Instead heavy particles does not have this characteristic, this is also the medical profession are still doubts about its effect on the result. 
Another most important thing is that the existing radiation therapy is not a cure-all, there are restrictions on their treatment, not all cancers are applicable, but we must all adopt a perception that the radiation therapy only for local cancer feasible, the terminal cancer Radical disease is also at a loss.