Executive summary

Lymphopenia caused by radiotherapy is associated with a poor prognosis. This study reviewed 143 HCC patients treated with photon (n=103 (72%)) and proton (n=40 (28%)) therapy and compared the changes in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC).

This study found that the proton group had a higher median ALC nadir (0.41 vs 0.32 k/µL, p=0.002) and longer median OS (33 vs 13 months, p=0.002) than the photon group. Proton therapy may reduce lymphopenia compared with photon therapy. 

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