Difference between TrueBeam and Proton (ProBeam)

Among the devices used in radiation oncology, the TrueBeam STx, which contains more than one equipment, is a radiotherapy device that is preferred to be used in the treatment of tumors with small volumes, especially in narrow areas, and treatments that require respiratory monitoring, and tumors accompanying risky organs, including spine and brain tumors.
In the field of radiation therapy, cancerous tissues are treated with proton beam beams by proton therapy centers, the number of which is increasing in the world. The ProBeam treatment system consists of a device that is used to irradiate tumor and cancer tissues in bundles by ionizing the positively charged protons coming out of the particle accelerator. It has a 360 degree rotating pen beam scanner that scans damaged tissue and transmits ionized proton beams.

In order to determine the appropriate treatment for the patients, first of all, it is necessary to determine the radiotherapy device for the treatment. The TrueBeam STx is a universal device with multiple  applications used in conventional radiotherapy. To talk about the features of the device, SRS and SRT feature for point and multiple irradiation, Rapidarc feature that can move around the patient and allows irradiation from different angles, IMRT in cases where intensity-adjusted irradiation is required, IGRT in the treatment of tumors that require millimetric precision, irradiation to tissues in motion. It is a very equipped device with Gated RT and SBRT that enables high dose irradiation. Truebeam STx provides treatment 2 to 8 times faster than the old version radiotherapy devices, while making the imaging time 5 times faster than other radiotherapy devices.

The Varian ProBeam proton therapy system is a therapy system built on a particle accelerator system, with an interface similar to a TrueBeam, whose interface and therapy platform are tailored to the needs of the patient. ProBeam has a system that includes imaging, treatment planning, robotic positioning, software applied in irradiation of moving tissues, and intensity-adjusted proton irradiation features. With the Dynamic Peak integrated scanning system, the appropriate radiation dose is calculated and the protons transmitted to the cancerous tissues with the PBS pen beam scanner spread the energy they have accumulated on the way into the scanned cancerous tissue by making Bragg Peak.

In the study carried out by the American Medical Oncology Association with the participation of 140,343 patients, traditional radiotherapy and proton therapy were used in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer in stages 2 and 3. According to the results of the study, it was found to be more successful than radiotherapy in some stages of lung cancer.

The main difference between TrueBeam and ProBeam therapy devices is the type of beam they use.

The interfaces that patients receive treatment are produced in a similar structure. The advantages of cancer patients preferring proton therapy are that it has fewer side effects than radiotherapy and is more suitable for children and elderly patients. The PBS irradiation technique applied in the treatment applies radiation to the cancer tissue in a more controlled manner, allowing patients to recover and return to their routine lives faster.

Source:
http://www.kanhastaliklari.org.tr/icerik.php?id=309&alt_id=311&tab=0
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/proton-therapy-safety-versus-traditional-radiation#:~:text=After%203%20years%2C%2046%25% 20%of,still%20alive%20after%203%20years.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6776803/
https://www.drozdogan.com/proton-tedavisi-nedir-diger-radyoterapi-yontemlenen-daha-etkili-midir/
https://www.varian.com/about-varian/newsroom/press-releases/varian-medical-systems-showcase-truebeam-stx-rapidarc

https://www.varian.com/about-varian/newsroom/press-releases/varian-medical-systems-introduces-probeam-proton-therapy
http://www.proton-therapy-today.com/what-is-proton-therapy/why-is-proton-therapy-a-preferable-option-and-what-is-the-bragg-peak/