Proton Therapy As De-Intensification Strategy For HPV+ Head and Neck Cancers

Proton Therapy As De-Intensification Strategy For HPV+ Head and Neck Cancers

From Penn Medicine Physician Interviews by Penn Medicine - Peer

April 1, 2026

About this episode

Alexander Lin, MD discusses a clinical study on the effectiveness of proton therapy for HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer.

Penn radiation oncologist Alexander Lin, MD, reviews the groundbreaking clinical study that established the equivalency of proton therapy to photon radiation (IMRT) as an adjunct for patients with HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer—finding in so doing that proton therapy can be used for deintensification of radiation treatment in this population. The study determined that proton therapy matched photon therapy in controlling cancer, and did so with fewer long-term side effects and better long-term outcomes, including survival. Learn more about Alexander Lin, MD

People in this episode

Guest: Alexander Lin, MD

Topics covered

  • proton therapy
  • HPV+ head and neck cancers
  • radiation treatment
  • clinical study
  • long-term outcomes

Keywords

  • proton therapy
  • HPV+
  • head and neck cancers
  • radiation treatment
  • clinical study
  • long-term side effects
  • survival outcomes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Penn Medicine, IMRT

Places: HPV+, oropharyngeal cancer

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