Proton beam therapy continues to generate significant interest — and controversy — in prostate cancer. About 45 cancer centers in the US offer proton therapy to treat a variety of cancers, including prostate cancer.

The technology, however, faces ongoing debate about its role in prostate cancer. Despite the buzz, there is no randomized evidence demonstrating that proton therapy is superior to the current standard of care: intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The core question has become: Is proton therapy for prostate cancer worth it?

Does the evidence line up with the buzz surrounding the use of proton therapy to treat prostate cancer?