Proton beam therapy for clival chordoma: Optimising rare cancer treatments in Australia

With the anticipated launch of the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research (ABCPTR) in Adelaide, Australia, proton therapy will become a significant addition to existing cancer treatment options for Australians. The anticipated benefits will be particularly evident in rare cancers such as clival chordomas, a challenging tumour entity due to the anatomical relationship with critical structures, and proven radio-resistance to conventional radiation therapy. The article synthesises key findings from major studies and evaluates the current evidence supporting various management strategies for clival chordomas. It also considers the influence of institutional volume and multidisciplinary team management on patient outcomes and outlines how high-quality care can be effectively delivered within the Australian healthcare system, emphasising the potential impact of proton therapy on the treatment paradigm of clival chordomas in Australia. The article discusses the anticipated launch of the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research (ABCPTR) in Adelaide, highlighting the potential benefits of proton therapy for rare cancers like clival chordomas. It synthesises key findings from major studies, evaluates management strategies for clival chordomas, considers the role of institutional volume and multidisciplinary teams in patient outcomes, and explores how high-quality care can be delivered in the Australian healthcare system, emphasising the potential impact of proton therapy on clival chordoma treatment in Australia. image