A preliminary study on effect of carbon ion radiotherapy on bone marrow suppression

To explore the effect of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) on the bone marrow adjacent to or within the treatment fields, and to observe the bone marrow toxicities after CIRT alone. Twenty-one patients with malignant tumors of different body parts and treated with CIRT in Heavy Ion Center, Wuwei Cancer Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The data of white blood cells, neutrophils, hemoglobin, platelets, lymphocytes and globulin before treatment, 7, 14 and 28 ​d during treatment, and 1 and 3 months after treatment were collected. Hematological toxicities were measured according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, Version 4.03) criteria. Dose-volume histogram parameters were obtained for all patients and analyzed for their correlation with myelosuppression. Univariate analysis was performed for patients’ sex, age group, tumor site, radiation dose, and Karnofsky performance score (KPS) was used as an independent factor to find predictors factors for the risk of myelosuppression. CIRT minimized the dose radiated to the bone marrow. Overall, volume receiving 3 GyE(V3) or more of the bone marrow were less than 0.5%, especially V5 less than 0.1%. No patients treated with carbon ion radiotherapy developed grade III or IV myelosuppression. Seven patients (33.3%) developed grade I myelosuppression and one patient (4.8%) developed grade II myelosuppression, and most of them showed reduced white blood cell counts. There were no significant differences in hemoglobin and globulin levels before and after CIRT. Univariate analysis did not find any statistically significant predictors for myelosuppression. CIRT is effective in preserving bone marrow function regardless of tumor site. Patients receiving CIRT alone have a low incidence of grade I−II myelosuppression and a mild effect on globulins. There was no significant correlation between occurrence of myelosuppression and the dose and site irradiated by CIRT. •Bone Marrow Sparing in Carbon Ion Radiotherapy.•A retrospective, observational study of total 21 patients with malignant tumors from various body sites treated with CIRT.•No patients treated with carbon ion developed grade III or IV myelosuppression.•Univariate analysis did not find any statistically significant predictors of myelosuppression.•CIRT can spare bone marrow effectively and patients receiving CIRT alone have a low chance of grade I-II myelosuppression.