從國際視角看台灣質子治療發展策略

International Perspective of Proton Beam Therapy Development Strategies in Taiwan

放射治療為癌症重要治療方式之一。因質子射束能量釋放特性，使質子照射可以將能量釋放區域集中於腫瘤處，以兼顧正常組織保護。隨著加速器和質子射束控制技術進步，質子治療中心在世界迅速成立，台灣也積極投入質子治療發展。依各國情況差異，質子治療發展挑戰與對策亦有不同。後學以放射腫瘤科醫師參與台灣大學輻射暨質子科學治療中心籌備，奉派至日本頂尖筑波大學質子治療中心進行訓練與合作研究，並至日本、美國著名質子中心參訪建立連結。本文以有限經驗見解結合國際質子治療發展局勢，提出台灣發展質子治療可能挑戰與因應策略。盼與台灣醫學會各位先進分享，使台灣質子治療發展奠立根基、開創未來，提升癌症病人治療成效與生活品質，發揮國際重要影響力。

Proton beam therapy is rapidly growing worldwide, especially in Asia. In Taiwan, two proton therapy centers are in operation currently and at least another two are under construction. To meet the needs for the fast progress of proton therapy in Taiwan, it is essential to integrate multidisciplinary teams, including radiation physics, radiobiology, biomedical engineering, and medical imaging, to break through the cancer treatment. The international collaboration with proton therapy centers in Japan and United States will help to establish a comprehensive proton therapy research network in Taiwan. Here, I provided potential development strategies for proton beam therapy in Taiwan from an international perspective.