PROTON BEAM RADIATION THERAPY

Transcription

1 PROTON BEAM RADIATION THERAPY Policy Number: 2016M0022B Effective Date: February 1, 2016 Table of Contents: Page: Cross Reference Policy: POLICY DESCRIPTION 2 Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy COVERAGE RATIONALE/CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS 2 (IMRT), 2015M0075A BACKGROUND 4 REGULATORY STATUS 6 Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic CLINICAL EVIDENCE 8 Spinal Pain, 2016M0019B APPLICABLE CODES 9 Radioactive Microspheres Embolization REFERENCES 11 for Treatment of Malignant Tumors, POLICY HISTORY/REVISION INFORMATION M0072B INSTRUCTIONS: Medical Policy assists in administering UCare benefits when making coverage determinations for members under our health benefit plans. When deciding coverage, all reviewers must first identify enrollee eligibility, federal and state legislation or regulatory guidance regarding benefit mandates, and the member specific Evidence of Coverage (EOC) document must be referenced prior to using the medical policies. In the event of a conflict, the enrollee's specific benefit document and federal and state legislation and regulatory guidance supersede this Medical Policy. In the absence of benefit mandates or regulatory guidance that govern the service, procedure or treatment, or when the member s EOC document is silent or not specific, medical policies help to clarify which healthcare services may or may not be covered. This Medical Policy is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. In addition to medical policies, UCare also uses tools developed by third parties, such as the InterQual Guidelines, to assist us in administering health benefits. The InterQual Guidelines are intended to be used in connection with the independent professional medical judgment of a qualified health care provider and do not constitute the practice of medicine or medical advice. Other Policies and Coverage Determination Guidelines may also apply. UCare reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify its Policies and Guidelines as necessary and to provide benefits otherwise excluded by medical policies when necessitated by operational considerations. Page. 1 of 15

2 POLICY DESCRIPTION: This medical policy describes the use of Proton Beam Therapy (PBT), a form of external radiotherapy in which positively charged subatomic particles (protons) are precisely targeted to a specific tissue mass using a sophisticated treatment planning and delivery system. PBT is used to reduce recurrence of a tumor after surgical excision or as a primary treatment for an inoperable mass. The goal is to deliver higher target doses to the tissue than is possible with conventional photon irradiation while improving local control of tumors and reducing acute and late complications. COVERAGE RATIONALE / CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: A. Proton Beam Radiation Therapy (PBT) is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY for the treatment of: 1. Pediatric, adolescent, or adults with radiosensitive tumor sites that may be considered for Proton Beam Radiotherapy: a. Those requiring craniospinal irradiation b. Central nervous system tumors or lesions: 1) Ependymomas 2) Craniopharyngiomas 3) Primitive neuroectodermal tumors 4) Low grade gliomas (astrocytoma, glioblastoma) 5) Medulloblastomas 6) Benign and atypical meningiomas 7) Neuromas c. Non-central nervous system tumors: 1) Chordomas and chondrosarcomas 2) Rhabdomyosarcomas 3) Retroperitoneal sarcoma 4) Malignant lesions of the paranasal sinus and nasal cavity tumors 5) Advanced staged and unresectable malignant lesions of the head and neck 6) Solid tumors in children 7) Ewing s sarcoma 8) Pineal tumors 2. Intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) 3. Melanoma of the uveal tract (iris, ciliary body and choroid), not amenable to surgical excision or other conventional forms of treatment 4. Spinal cord tumors B. Proton Beam Radiation Therapy (PBT) is considered INVESTIGATIONAL for the conditions listed below, however it would be covered by CMS when the therapy is part of a clinical trial, registry or both. 1. Unresectable lung cancers and upper abdominal/peri-diaphragmatic cancers 2. Advanced stage, unresectable pelvic tumors including those with peri-aortic nodes or malignant lesions of the cervix 3. Left breast tumors 4. Unresectable pancreatic and adrenal tumors 5. Skin cancer with macroscopic perineural/cranial nerve invasion of skull base Page. 2 of 15

3 6. Unresectable malignant lesions of the liver, biliary tract, anal canal and rectum 7. Prostate cancer, non-metastatic Presence of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) review is expected. Physician documentation of patient selection criteria and patient informed consent are also required. Note: There is as yet no good comparative data to determine whether or not Proton Beam Therapy for these conditions is superior, inferior, or equivalent to external beam radiation, IMRT, or brachytherapy in terms of safety or efficacy. Comparative effectiveness studies including randomized controlled trials are needed to document the theoretical incremental advantages of PBT over other radiotherapies in many common cancers. It is not known whether the higher precision of PBT actually translates to better clinical outcomes. Therefore, PBT is considered a form of external beam radiation therapy, nonpreferentially to other forms of external beam radiation. C. Proton Beam Radiation Therapy is considered EXPERIMENTAL/INVESTIGATIONAL for the treatment of other indications, including but not limited to: 1. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) 2. Bladder cancer 3. Carotid body tumor 4. Cavernous hemangioma 5. Choroidal hemangioma 6. Esophageal cancer 7. Germ cell tumors 8. Lymphoma 9. Non-uveal melanoma 10. Small bowel adenocarcinoma 11. Tumors of the vestibular system 12. Thymoma 13. Intracranial and skull base tumors that have metastasized from another primary site There is inadequate clinical evidence of safety and/or efficacy in published, peer-reviewed medical literature to support the use of PBT on these conditions. D. Proton beam radiation therapy used in conjunction with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is considered EXPERIMENTAL/INVESTIGATIONAL. Clinical evidence is insufficient to support the combined use of these technologies in a single treatment plan. Comparative effectiveness studies including randomized controlled trials are needed to demonstrate the safety and long-term efficacy of combined therapy. Clinical Considerations: Alternatives to PBT include, but may not be limited to, the following: Chemotherapy Electron beam radiation therapy (EBRT) Endovascular embolization Surgical excision. Physician documentation of patient selection criteria is required. Page. 3 of 15

4 The patient's record demonstrates why proton beam radiotherapy is considered the treatment of choice for the individual patient. For the treatment of primary lesions, the intent of treatment must be curative. There is documented clinical rationale that doses generally thought to be above the level otherwise attainable with other radiation methods might improve control rates. There is documented clinical rationale that higher levels of precision associated with proton beam therapy compared to other radiation treatments are clinically necessary. For the treatment of metastatic lesions, there must be: o The expectation of a long-term benefit (greater than 2 years of life expectancy) that could not have been attained with conventional therapy. o The expectation of a complete eradication of the metastatic lesion that could not have been safely accomplished with conventional therapy, as evidenced by a dosimetric advantage for proton beam radiotherapy over other forms of radiation therapy (IMRT or 3-D radiation therapy). BACKGROUND: Unlike other types of radiation therapy that use x-rays or photons to destroy cancer cells, proton beam therapy (PBT) uses a beam of special particles (protons) that carry a positive charge. There is no significant difference in the biological effects of protons versus photons; however, protons can deliver a dose of radiation in a more confined way to the tumor tissue than photons. After they enter the body, protons release most of their energy within the tumor region and, unlike photons, deliver only a minimal dose beyond the tumor boundaries (American College of Radiology website, 2012). The greatest energy release with conventional radiation (photons) is at the surface of the tissue and decreases exponentially the farther it travels. In contrast, the energy of a proton beam is released at the end of its path, a region called the Bragg peak. Since the energy release of the proton beam is confined to the narrow Bragg peak, collateral damage to the surrounding tissues should be reduced, while an increased dose of radiation can be delivered to the tumor. Because of these physical properties, it has been theorized that PBT may be especially useful for cancers located in areas of the body that are highly sensitive to radiation and/or where damage to healthy tissue would be an unacceptable risk to the patient. In addition, PBT may also benefit patients with tumors that are not amenable to surgery. Theoretically, the use of protons and other charged-particle beams may improve outcomes when the following conditions apply: 1. Conventional treatment modalities do not provide adequate local tumor control; 2. Evidence shows that local tumor response depends on the dose of radiation delivered; and 3. Delivery of adequate radiation doses to the tumor is limited by the proximity of vital radiosensitive issues or structures. PBT has been used in stereotactic radiosurgery of intracranial lesions. The gamma knife and linear accelerator have also been used in stereotactic radiosurgery. Proton beam radiotherapy has been shown to be particularly useful in treating radiosensitive tumors that are located next to vital structures, where complete surgical excision or administration of adequate doses of conventional radiation is difficult or Page. 4 of 15

5 impossible. Examples include uveal melanomas, chordomas and chondrosarcomas at the base of the skull, and inoperable arterio-venous malformations. To date, there are no published, controlled, comparative studies describing outcomes from patients treated with proton beam radiotherapy versus other therapies; thus the advantage of protons over conventional photon therapy is based on the dosimetric advantage of protons over photons for tumors that are in immediate proximity to critical structures. The majority of the published literature is in the form of prospective or retrospective case series and cohort studies; there is also significant variation in the types and stages of cancer for which treatment with proton beam radiotherapy has been reported, as well as the reported doses and fractionation schedules. Published reports focus mainly on toxicity, and include pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients treated with proton beam radiotherapy primarily for ocular cancers, spine or skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas, spinal and paraspinal bone and soft tissue sarcomas, head and neck cancers, and brain tumors. In addition, there is some literature reporting the use of proton beam radiotherapy for patients with lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and some gastrointestinal cancers. As of April 2013, there are 41 facilities worldwide that offer treatment with proton beam radiotherapy. In North America, there are currently 12 facilities in operation, and 8 more are under development or being constructed. Device: The proton beam facility involves an accelerator-synchrotron system, a beam transport system, a beam delivery system, and a patient alignment and imaging system (treatment planning system), all under the operation of a facility control system. Protons are generated by an ion source and then accelerated by a linear accelerator up to approximately 2 million electron volts (MeV). The beam then enters the synchrotron; as the protons complete each trip around the synchrotron, their energy is increased to the desired level by the addition of radiofrequency energy. The desired energy level would be that required to position the Bragg peak into the cancerous tissue. The beam transport system consists of additional magnets that focus and direct the beam from the synchrotron to the delivery system, which is located in one of several treatment rooms. The beam delivery system that is used for treatment of tumors in locations other than the head and neck or the eye is mounted on very large steel gantries. These gantries can rotate 360 around the patient, thus providing great flexibility in exact delivery of the proton beam. Several components serve to spread and shape the beam so that it fits the target irradiation volume. Computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET), along with conventional x-rays, can be utilized to construct a digital three-dimensional model of the cancerous tissue for treatment planning (MacDonald et al., 2006; Optivus, 2006). Treatment: Precise targeting of the Bragg peak is of utmost importance in PBT because there is a sudden release of energy within the Bragg peak, but minimal energy release proximal to it and virtually none distal to it. Additional margins are added to the gross tumor volume to define a clinical target volume and a planning target volume, thus allowing a small margin of noncancerous tissue to be irradiated. Multiple tumors are encompassed within a single target volume. Penetration depth is controlled by the initial energy selected for the beam. Proton dose is measured in cobalt gray equivalents (CGE), which are calculated by multiplying the amount of energy delivered, measured in grays (Gy), times a relative biological effectiveness (RBE) ratio. The RBE expresses the relative effect of a test radiation compared with the same energy delivered as photon radiation. For proton beams, the RBE is usually considered to be 1.1. As with conventional radiation therapy, PBT usually uses fractionation of dose and multiport beam entry to limit exposure to the skin and other non-target tissue. The patient s positioning must be consistent for Page. 5 of 15

6 consecutive treatment sessions. Patient immobilization is also an essential component of precise targeting and is often accomplished by placing the patient in a polyvinyl mold. A technique referred to as respiration gating may be used to help avoid irradiation beyond the planned volume because of organ motion that occurs during breathing. In some patients, conformal photon irradiation may be administered in conjunction with PBT (Bush et al., 2004a; Chiba et al., 2005; Levin et al., 2005; Hata et al., 2006a; MacDonald et al., 2006; Nihei et al., 2006). REGULATORY STATUS: 1. U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA): Radiation therapy is a procedure and, therefore, is not subject to FDA regulation. However, the accelerators and other equipment used to generate and deliver proton beam radiation therapy are regulated by the FDA. Proton beam therapy systems are approved by the FDA 510(k) process as a medical device designed to produce and deliver a proton beam for the treatment of patients with localized tumors and other conditions susceptible to treatment by radiation (FDA, 2006). Examples of such systems are the Optivus Proton Beam Therapy System (Optivus Technology Inc., Loma Linda, CA) and the Probeat (Hitachi, Ltd., Power Systems Group, Tokyo, Japan) (FDA, 2006; FDA, 2000). The following devices have received 510(k) clearance for PBT of tumors and other medical conditions susceptible to proton radiation therapy: The Harvard University Cyclotron Laboratory Beam Therapy system is a pre-amendment (pre-1976) device (FDA, 2001a; FDA, 2001b). The Loma Linda University Proton Beam Therapy system received 510(k) clearance on February 22, 1988 (FDA, 1998). The Optivus Proton Beam Therapy System (Optivus Technology, Inc, Loma Linda, CA) received 510(k) clearance on July 21, 2000 (FDA, 2000). The Proton Therapy System (Ion Beam Applications S.A., Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; distributed in the U.S. by Ion Beam Applications, Philadelphia, PA) received 510(k) clearance on July 12, 2001 (FDA, 2001a). The Northeast Proton Therapy Center (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA) received FDA 510(k) clearance on July 20, 2001 (FDA, 2001b). Hitachi Probeat (Hitachi, Ltd., Power Systems Group, Tokyo, Japan) received FDA 510(k) clearance (FDA, 2006b). Accessed November 13, CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS): No National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Proton Beam Therapy exists. Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) exist for Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) and compliance with the policy is required. LCD ID Number: L Minnesota. Accessed November 13, Proton therapy is of particular value in those tumors located close to vital organs (or organs at risk) Page. 6 of 15

7 where a small local overdose can cause fatal complications such as tumors close to the spinal cord. Irregular shaped lesions near critical structures are well suited for protons. In general, proton beam radiotherapy is not indicated for cancers that are widely disseminated, such as leukemias or malignancies with hematogenous metastases or as a short term palliative procedure. Proton beam therapy is also not indicated in the treatment of very radiosensitive tumors such as lymphomas or germ cell neoplasms. The intent of treatment should be curative. If proton beam radiotherapy is used for a patient with metastatic disease, evidence should be provided to justify the expectation of a long-term benefit (> 2y), as well as evidence of a dosimetric advantage for proton beam radiotherapy over other forms of radiation therapy. Due to the reduction in integral dose with protons, the most important benefits can be expected for pediatric patients. In adults, proton beam therapy should be reserved to treat patients that have clinically apparent disease (by exam or medical imaging). Indications: Proton beam therapy will be considered medically reasonable and necessary for the following conditions: Group 1 1. Unresectable benign or malignant central nervous system tumors to include but not limited to primary and variant forms of astrocytoma, glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, acoustic neuroma, craniopharyngioma, benign and atypical meningiomas, pineal gland tumors, and arteriovenous malformations, 2. Intraocular melanomas, 3. Pituitary neoplasms, 4. Chordomas and chondrosarcomas, 5. Advanced stage and unresectable malignant lesions of the head and neck, 6. Malignant lesions of the para-nasal sinus, and other accessory sinuses, 7. Unresectable retroperitoneal sarcoma, 8. Solid tumors in children. In addition to the criteria in Group I, Proton Beam Therapy indications must demonstrate that: The Dose Volume Histogram (DVH), one or more critical structures or organs, are protected by the use of Proton Beam Therapy; The dose to control or treat the tumor cannot be delivered without exceeding the tolerance of the normal tissue; There is documented clinical rationale that doses generally thought to be above the level otherwise attainable with other radiation methods might improve control rates; or There is documented clinical rationale that higher levels of precision associated with Proton Beam Therapy compared to other radiation treatments are clinically necessary. Group 2 This section defines conditions that are still under investigation and would be covered when part of a clinical trial, registry or both. 1. Unresectable lung cancers and upper abdominal/peri-diaphragmatic cancers, 2. Advanced stage, unresectable pelvic tumors including those with peri-aortic nodes or malignant lesions of the cervix, 3. Left breast tumors, 4. Unresectable pancreatic and adrenal tumors, 5. Skin cancer with macroscopic perineural/cranial nerve invasion of skull base, Page. 7 of 15

8 6. Unresectable malignant lesions of the liver, biliary tract, anal canal and rectum, 7. Prostate cancer, non-metastatic. Note: There is as yet no good comparative data to determine whether or not Proton Beam Therapy for prostate cancer is superior, inferior, or equivalent to external beam radiation, IMRT, or brachytherapy in terms of safety or efficacy. Physician documentation of patient selection criteria is required. For the treatment of primary lesions, the intent of treatment must be curative. For the treatment of metastatic lesions, there must be: The expectation of a long-term benefit (greater than 2 years of life expectancy) that could not have been attained with conventional therapy, The expectation of a complete eradication or improved duration of control of the metastatic lesion that could not have been safely accomplished with conventional therapy, as evidenced by a dosimetric advantage for proton beam radiotherapy over other forms of radiation therapy, o The patient s record demonstrates why proton beam radiotherapy is considered the treatment of choice for the individual patient, o The presence of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) review when appropriate and patient informed consent are also expected. 3. MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS): Minnesota DHS does not have a policy statement regarding PBT in its Provider Manual or other specific provider references. CLINICAL EVIDENCE: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a report on particle beam therapy for treating a variety of cancers. More than half of the publications the AHRQ identified described treatment of ocular cancers (uveal melanoma in particular), and cancers of the head and neck (brain tumors, and tumors arising from skull base, cervical spine and nearby structures). In order of decreasing number of studies, the following types of malignancies were also described: gastrointestinal (esophageal cancer, hepatocellular carcinomas of the liver, pancreatic cancer), prostate, lung, spine and sacrum, bone and soft tissue, uterine (cervix and corpus), bladder, and miscellaneous (skin cancer or a compilation of a center s experience with a variety of cancers treated there). According to the AHRQ report, there are many publications on particle (mainly proton) beam therapy for the treatment of cancer. However, they typically do not use a concurrent control, focus on heterogeneous populations and they employ different definitions for outcomes and harms. These studies do not document the circumstances in contemporary treatment strategies in which radiotherapy with charged particles is superior to other modalities. Comparative effectiveness studies including randomized controlled trials are needed to document the theoretical advantages of charged particle radiotherapy to specific clinical situations. At present, there is very limited evidence comparing the safety and effectiveness of PBRT with other types of radiation therapies for cancer. Therefore, it is not possible to draw conclusions about the comparative safety and effectiveness of PBRT at this time (AHRQ, 2009). Several systematic reviews (Terasawa, 2009; Brada, 2009; Lodge, 2007; Olsen, 2007) previously reported the lack of evidence supporting proton beam therapy and the need for well-designed prospective studies Page. 8 of 15

9 comparing proton beam therapy to other forms of radiation therapy. APPLICABLE CODES: UNDER DEVELOPMENT: This section will host claim payment and billing instructions to be used by Claims and Customer Service staff. Content in this section is to be developed cooperatively by multiple departments, and reviewed by the Medical Policy Group. Note: The contents of this section are confidential and are not to be shared externally. When printing a copy of a policy for external distribution, this section should be excluded. CPT Codes Description 0073T Compensator-based beam modulation treatment delivery of inverse planned treatment using 3 or more high resolution (milled or cast) compensator convergent beam modulated fields, per treatment session 0197T Intra-fraction localization and tracking of target or patient motion during delivery of radiation therapy (e.g., 3D positional tracking, gating, 3D surface tracking), each fraction of treatment Intensity modulated radiotherapy plan, including dose-volume histograms for target and critical structure partial tolerance specifications Multi-leaf collimator (MLC) device(s) for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), design and construction per IMRT plan Intensity modulated treatment delivery, single or multiple fields/arcs, via narrow spatially and temporally modulated beams, binary, dynamic MLC, per treatment session Proton treatment delivery; simple, without compensation Proton treatment delivery; simple, with compensation Proton treatment delivery; intermediate Proton treatment delivery; complex ICD-9 Codes Description , Malignant neoplasm [radiosensitive] Malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum [soft tissue sarcomas not amenable to other radiotherapy] Malignant neoplasm of bones of skull and face, except mandible Malignant neoplasm of vertebral column, excluding sacrum and coccyx 185 Malignant neoplasm of prostate Malignant neoplasm of eyeball, except conjunctiva, cornea, retina, and choroid (e.g., uveal tract) [confined to globe - not distant metastases] Malignant neoplasm of choroid Malignant neoplasm of brain Malignant neoplasm of cranial nerves Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord Malignant neoplasm of spinal meninges Page. 9 of 15

10 Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of nervous system Malignant neoplasm of pituitary gland and craniopharyngeal duct Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain and spinal cord Secondary malignant neoplasm of other parts of nervous system Benign neoplasm of brain Benign neoplasm of cranial nerves [not covered for vestibular schwannoma] Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges Benign neoplasm of spinal cord Benign neoplasm of pituitary gland and craniopharyngeal duct (pouch) Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland and craniopharyngeal duct Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of brain and spinal cord Anomalies of cerebrovascular system [arterio-venous malformations] Spinal vessel anomaly [arterio-venous malformations] ICD-10 Codes Description C69.30 Malignant neoplasm of unspecified choroid C69.31 Malignant neoplasm of right choroid C69.32 Malignant neoplasm of left choroid C69.40 Malignant neoplasm of unspecified ciliary body C69.41 Malignant neoplasm of right ciliary body C69.42 Malignant neoplasm of left ciliary body C70.1 Malignant neoplasm of spinal meninges C71.0 Malignant neoplasm of cerebrum, except lobes and ventricles C71.1 Malignant neoplasm of frontal lobe C71.2 Malignant neoplasm of temporal lobe C71.3 Malignant neoplasm of parietal lobe C71.4 Malignant neoplasm of occipital lobe C71.5 Malignant neoplasm of cerebral ventricle C71.6 Malignant neoplasm of cerebellum C71.7 Malignant neoplasm of brain stem C71.8 Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of brain C71.9 Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified C72.0 Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord C72.1 Malignant neoplasm of cauda equina C79.31 Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain C79.32 Secondary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges C79.40 Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of nervous system C79.49 Secondary malignant neoplasm of other parts of nervous system D07.5 Carcinoma in situ of prostate D33.0 Benign neoplasm of brain, supratentorial D33.1 Benign neoplasm of brain, infratentorial D33.2 Benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified D42.0 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cerebral meninges D42.1 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of spinal meninges D42.9 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of meninges, unspecified D43.0 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of brain, supratentorial D43.1 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of brain, infratentorial D43.2 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of brain, unspecified Page. 10 of 15

11 D43.4 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of spinal cord D49.6 Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of brain Q28.3 Other malformations of cerebral vessels Q28.2 Arteriovenous malformation of cerebral vessels HCPCS Codes S8030 Description Scleral application of tantalum ring(s) for localization of lesions for proton beam therapy CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. REFERENCES: 1. Hayes, Winifred S. Directory Report. Proton Beam Therapy for Prostate Cancer. March 25, Available at: Accessed November 13, Hayes, Winifred S. Directory Report. Proton Beam Therapy for Oligodendroglioma. August 10, Available at: Accessed November 13, Hayes, Winifred S. Directory Report. Proton Beam Therapy for Thoracic and Abdominal Organs. September 10, Available at: Accessed November 13, Hayes, Winifred S. Directory Report. Proton Beam Therapy for Ocular Tumors, Hemangiomas, and Macular Degeneration. June 12, Available at: Accessed November 13, Hayes, Winifred S. Search & Summary. Proton Beam Therapy for Medulloblastoma in Children. May 27, Available at: Accessed November 13, ACR ASTRO Practice Parameter For The Performance Of Proton Beam Radiation Therapy. Amended 2014 Available at: Accessed November 13, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Technology Assessment. Comparative evaluation of radiation treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer: an update. August Available at: Accessed November 13, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Trikalinos TA, Terasawa T, Ip S, Raman G, Lau J. Particle Beam Radiation Therapies for Cancer. Technical Brief No. 1. (Prepared by Tufts Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. HHSA ) Revised November Available at: Accessed November 13, Allen AM, Pawlicki T, Dong L, et al. An evidence based review of proton beam therapy: the report of ASTRO's emerging technology committee. Radiother Oncol Apr;103(1): Al-Mefty O, Borba LAB. Skull base chordomas: a management challenge. J Neurosurg. 1997;86: American College of Radiology (ACR). ACR Appropriateness Criteria. Nonsurgical treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer Available at: Accessed November 12, American College of Radiology (ACR) website. Proton therapy. May Available at: Accessed November 12, Barker FG II, Butler WE, Lyons S, et al. Dose-volume prediction of radiation-related complications after proton beam radiosurgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations. J Neurosurg. 2003;99(2): Bekkering GE, Rutjes AW, Vlassov VV, et al. The effectiveness and safety of proton radiation therapy for indications of the eye: a systematic review. Strahlenther Onkol Apr;185(4): Blue Cross Blue Shield. Technology Evaluation Center. TEC Assessment Program. Proton beam therapy for prostate cancer Jun;25(10): Blue Cross Blue Shield. Technology Evaluation Center. TEC Assessment Program. Proton beam therapy for nonsmall-cell lung cancer Mar;25(7):1-3. Page. 11 of 15

12 17. Bonnet R, Bush D, et al. Effects of proton and combined proton/photon beam radiation on pulmonary function in patients with resectable but medically inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. Chest 2001;120(6): Brada M, Pijls-Johannesma M, De Ruysscher D. Current clinical evidence for proton therapy. Cancer J Jul- Aug;15(4): Bush DA, Kayali Z, Grove R, Slater JD. The safety and efficacy of high-dose proton beam radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 2 prospective trial. Cancer Jul 1;117(13): Bush DA, McAllister CJ, Loredo LN, et al. Fractionated proton beam radiotherapy for acoustic neuroma. Neurosurgery. 2002;50(2): Bush DA, Slater JD, Bonnet R, et al. Proton-beam radiotherapy for early-stage lung cancer. Chest. 1999;116(5): Castelluci L. Proton therapy faces high hurdles to general use. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998;90(23): Chan RV, Yonekawa Y, Lane AM, et al. Proton beam irradiation using a light-field technique for the treatment of choroidal hemangiomas. Ophthalmologica. 2010;224(4): Chang JY, Komaki R, Lu C, et al. Phase 2 study of high-dose proton therapy with concurrent chemotherapy for unresectable stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer. Cancer Mar Ciulla TA, Danis RP, Klein SB, et al. Proton therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration: a randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. Am J Ophthalmol. 2002;134(6): Duttenhaver JR, Shipley WU, Perrone T, et al. Protons or megavoltage x-rays as boost therapy for patients irradiated for localized prostatic carcinoma: an early phase I/II comparison. Cancer. 1983;51(9): Evans JR, Sivagnanavel V, Chong V. Radiotherapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev May 12;5:CD Frau E, Rumen F, Noel G, et al. Low-dose proton beam therapy for circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas. Arch Ophthalmol Oct;122(10): Gardner BG, Zietman AL, Shipley WU, et al. Late normal tissue sequelae in the second decade after high dose radiation therapy with combined photons and conformal protons for locally advanced prostate cancer. J Urol. 2002;167(1): Gewanter RM, Rosenzweig KE, Chang JY, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria: nonsurgical treatment for non-smallcell lung cancer: good performance status/definitive intent. Curr Probl Cancer May-Jun;34(3): Grutters JP, Kessels AG, Pijls-Johannesma M, et al. Comparison of the effectiveness of radiotherapy with photons, protons and carbon-ions for non-small cell lung cancer: a metaanalysis. Radiother Oncol Apr;95(1): Gudjonsson O, Blomquist E, Nyberg G, et al. Stereotactic irradiation of skull base meningiomas with high energy protons. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1999;141(9): Harsh GR, Thornton AF, Chapman PH, et al. Proton beam stereotactic radiosurgery of vestibular schwannomas. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002;54(1): Hocht S, Wachtlin J, Bechrakis NE, et al. Proton or photon irradiation for hemangiomas of the choroid? A retrospective comparison. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Oct 1;66(2): Hug EB, Fitzek MM, Liebsch NJ, et al. Locally challenging osteo- and chondrogenic tumors of the axial skeleton: results of combined proton and photon radiation therapy using three-dimensional treatment planning. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1995;31(3): Kagei K, Tokuuye K, Okumura T, et al. Long-term results of proton beam therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2003;55(5): Kjellberg RN, Hanamura T, Davis KR, et al. Bragg-peak proton-beam therapy for arteriovenous malformations of the brain. N Engl J Med. 1983;309: Kjellberg RN, Shintani A, Frantz AG, et al. Proton-beam therapy in acromegaly. N Engl J Med. 1968;278: Kjellberg RN. Stereotactic Bragg peak proton beam radiosurgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Ann Clin Res. 1986;18: Koyama S, Tsujii H. Proton beam therapy with high-dose irradiation for superficial and advanced esophageal carcinomas. Clin Cancer Res. 2003;9: Levy-Gabriel C, Rouic LL, Plancher C, et al. Long-term results of low-dose proton beam therapy for circumscribed Page. 12 of 15

13 choroidal hemangiomas. Retina Feb;29(2): Lodge M, Pijls-Johannesma M, Stirk L, et al. A systematic literature review of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of hadron therapy in cancer. Radiother Oncol May;83(2): McAllister B, Archambeau JO, Nguyen MC, et al. Proton therapy for pediatric cranial tumors: preliminary report on treatment and disease-related morbidities. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1997;39: Mehdorn HM, Grote W. Non-invasive follow-up of patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformations after proton-beam radiation therapy. Acta Neurochir. 1988;42: Miyanaga N, Akaza H, Okumura T, et al. A bladder preservation regimen using intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy for invasive bladder cancer: a prospective study. Int J Urol. 2000;7(2): Mizumoto M, Sugahara S, Nakayama H, et al. Clinical results of proton-beam therapy for locoregionally advanced esophageal cancer. Strahlenther Onkol Sep;186(9): Murphy ES, Suh JH. Radiotherapy for vestibular schwannomas: a critical review. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Mar 15;79(4): National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Prostate cancer. V National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Hepatobiliary cancers. V National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Non-small cell lung cancer. V National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Bone cancer. V Olsen DR, Bruland OS, Frykholm G, Norderhaug IN. Proton therapy - a systematic review of clinical effectiveness. Radiother Oncol May;83(2): Pijls-Johannesma M, Grutters JP, Verhaegen F, et al. Do we have enough evidence to implement particle therapy as standard treatment in lung cancer? A systematic literature review. Oncologist. 2010;15(1): Ramaekers BL, Pijls-Johannesma M, Joore MA, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of radiotherapy in various head and neck cancers: comparing photons, carbon-ions and protons. Cancer Treat Rev May;37(3): Ross J, Al-Shahi Salman R. Interventions for treating brain arteriovenous malformations in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Jul 7: Rossi Jr CJ, Slater JD, Yonemoto LT, et al. Influence of patient age on biochemical freedom from disease in patients undergoing conformal proton radiotherapy of organ-confined prostate cancer. Urology. 2004;64(4): Samson DJ, Ratko TA, Rothenberg BM, et al. Comparative effectiveness and safety of radiotherapy treatments for head and neck cancer. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 20. (Prepared by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Technology Evaluation Center Evidence based, Practice Center under Contract No ) Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, May Schulte RW, Slater JD, Rossi CJ Jr, et al. Value and perspectives of proton radiation therapy for limited stage prostate cancer. Strahlenther Onkol. 2000;176: Seifert V. Stolke D. Mehdorn HM. Et al. Clinical and radiological evaluation of long-term results of stereotactic proton beam radiosurgery in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations. J Neurosurg. 1994;81: Sejpal S, Komaki R, Tsao A, et al. Early findings on toxicity of proton beam therapy with concurrent chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Jul 1;117(13): Sheets NC, Goldin GH, Meyer AM, et al. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, proton therapy, or conformal radiation therapy and morbidity and disease control in localized prostate cancer. JAMA Apr 18;307(15): Shipley WU, Verhey LJ, Munzenrider JE, et al. Advanced prostate cancer: the results of a randomized comparative trial of high dose irradiation boosting with conformal protons compared with conventional dose irradiation using photons alone. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1995;32(1): Slater JD, Rossi CJ, Jr., Yonemoto LT, et al. Proton therapy for prostate cancer: the initial Loma Linda University Page. 13 of 15

14 experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004;59(2): Suit HD, Goitein M, Munzenrider JE, et al. Definitive radiation therapy for chordoma and chondrosarcoma of base of skull and cervical spine. J Neurosurg. 1982;56: Terasawa T, Dvorak T, Ip S, et al. Systematic review: charged-particle radiation therapy for cancer. Ann Intern Med Oct 20;151(8): Thompson I, Thrasher JB, Aus G, AUA Prostate Cancer Clinical Guideline Update Panel et al. Guideline for the management of clinically localized prostate cancer: 2007 Update. J Urol Jun;177(6): van de Water TA, Bijl HP, Schilstra C, et al. The potential benefit of radiotherapy with protons in head and neck cancer with respect to normal tissue sparing: a systematic review of literature. Oncologist. 2011;16(3): Vargas C, Fryer A, Mahajan C, et al. Dose-volume comparison of proton therapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Mar 1;70(3): Epub 2007 Sep Vernimmen FJ, Harris JK, Wilson JA, et al. Stereotactic proton beam therapy of skull base meningiomas. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2001;49(1): Vernimmen FJ. Stereotactic proton beam therapy for intracranial arteriovenous malformations. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. May 1, 2005; 62(1): Weber DC, Rutz HP, Pedroni ES, et al. Results of spot-scanning proton radiation therapy for chordoma and chondrosarcoma of the skull base: the Paul Scherrer Institut experience. Int J RAug 9, Oncol Biol Phys Oct 1;63(2): Wenkel E, Thornton AF, Finkelstein D, et al. Benign meningioma: partially resected, biopsied, and recurrent intracranial tumors treated with combined proton and photon radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2000;48(5): Widesott L, Amichetti M, Schwarz M. Proton therapy in lung cancer: clinical outcomes and technical issues. A systematic review. Radiother Oncol Feb;86(2): Zambarakji, H. J., Lane, A. M., Ezra, et al.proton beam irradiation for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology. 2006;113(11): Zietman AL, Bae K, Slater JD, et al. Randomized trial comparing conventional-dose with high-dose conformal radiation therapy in early-stage adenocarcinoma of the prostate: long-term results from Proton Radiation Oncology Group/American College of Radiology J Clin Oncol Mar 1;28(7): Zografos L, Egger E, Bercher L, Chamot L, Munkel G. Proton beam irradiation of choroidal hemangiomas. Am J Ophthalmol Li J, Dabaja B, Reed V, Allen PK, Cai H, Amin MV, et al. Rationale for and preliminary results of proton beam therapy for mediastinal lymphoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Sep;81(1): Hoppe BS, Flampouri S, Su Z, Morris CG, Latif N, Dang NH, et al. Consolidative involved-node proton therapy for Stage IA-IIIB mediastinal Hodgki. POLICY HISTORY: DATE ACTION/DESCRIPTION 04/24/2013 New Policy 2013M0022A. Reviewed by Interim Medical Policy Committee. 05/23/2013 Reviewed and approved by the Quality Improvement Advisory and Credentialing Council (QIACC). 11/15/2013 Published to UCare.org 12/7/2015 Updated. Reviewed and approved by Medical Policy Committee. Revised number to 2016M0022B. 12/17/2015 Reviewed and approved by the Quality Improvement Advisory and Credentialing Council (QIACC). 01/01/2016 Published to UCare.org Page. 14 of 15

15 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Q1: A1: ATTACHMENTS: Page. 15 of 15