In Europe, the incidence of cancer among adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 39 presents a growing challenge for modern oncology. Each year, approximately 150,000 individuals in this age group are diagnosed with cancer, with Western European countries reporting a particularly high rate compared to other regions globally. Alarmingly, despite advances in oncology, survival rates for this demographic have not improved at the same pace as those observed in pediatric patients or adults over the age of 40, highlighting a critical need for tailored therapeutic strategies and enhanced treatment modalities.
One of the most pressing concerns relates to the substantial proportion of these young cancer patients who, despite receiving current standard therapies, experience relapse or develop secondary malignancies. Studies indicate that between 10 and 25 percent of treated adolescents and young adults face such adverse outcomes. This phenomenon underscores the complexity of cancer biology within this unique age group and signals potential limitations of existing treatment paradigms, including radiotherapy.
To address these critical issues, an interdisciplinary consortium of Europe’s leading radiation oncology experts, spearheaded by Professor Esther Troost, has embarked on an ambitious research initiative. Professor Troost, who holds prestigious positions at Technische Universität Dresden and University Hospital Dresden, is at the forefront of image-guided, high-precision radiotherapy. Her team’s project—coined KAYAC+ (Knowledge on Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer)—aims to refine radiation therapy techniques to enhance clinical outcomes while minimizing harmful side effects, particularly the risk of secondary tumors.
The KAYAC+ project emerges at a pivotal moment when radiation oncology is undergoing significant technological transformation. Traditional photon-based radiotherapy, while effective, often exposes surrounding healthy tissues to radiation, increasing the likelihood of late adverse effects. In contrast, particle therapy, especially proton therapy, offers distinct physical advantages by allowing high-dose irradiation to be tightly confined to tumor volumes, substantially reducing radiation exposure to adjacent healthy structures. This precision is crucial for adolescents and young adults, whose long post-treatment lifespan magnifies the impact of radiation-induced secondary malignancies.
Particle therapy is currently available at approximately 140 centers worldwide, including four dedicated facilities in Germany. Since 2014, University Hospital Dresden’s Proton Therapy Facility has been delivering cutting-edge proton therapy to patients, integrating clinical care with research. The unique clinical setting facilitates comprehensive data collection and analysis that informs evidence-based refinements in treatment protocols, crucial for this age group’s nuanced oncological needs.
The interdisciplinary research under KAYAC+ goes beyond clinical application by integrating advanced imaging modalities and sophisticated radiation delivery techniques. Two doctoral researchers, based at the OncoRay Center in Dresden and collaborating institutions in Sweden, will conduct in-depth analyses of clinical outcomes following particle therapy. They will investigate factors influencing suboptimal responses, including tumor genetics, hormonal environment, and radiation technology parameters, with a keen focus on elucidating the mechanisms behind secondary cancer development post-therapy.
Establishing a robust European database represents a cornerstone of this initiative. Compilation and harmonization of patient data across participating centers—including the University Medical Center Groningen, Skandion Clinic in Uppsala, Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica in Pavia, and others—will promote large-scale analyses capable of generating statistically significant insights. This data warehouse promises to accelerate the translation of research findings into clinical practice, fostering personalized treatment regimens tailored to the specific biological and clinical profiles of adolescents and young adults with cancer.
The cancers prevalent in this population differ somewhat from those common in pediatric or older adult populations. Malignancies of the breast, thyroid, testicles, brain and spinal cord, bone and soft tissues, and lymphatic system predominate, reflecting unique epidemiological patterns. Standard treatment typically involves multimodal regimens combining surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. Despite aggressive treatment, relapse rates remain troublingly high, prompting urgent inquiry into biological and treatment-related factors that contribute to these outcomes.
Research into the apparently less favorable prognosis for adolescents and young adults is complex, involving multifactorial considerations. Patient adherence to therapy protocols, the distinctive molecular characteristics of tumors in this cohort, hormonal influences, and the propensity for second primary malignancies induced by therapy all play roles that remain incompletely understood. The KAYAC+ project’s multidisciplinary framework provides an ideal platform to dissect these variables using state-of-the-art imaging, biomolecular tools, and advanced radiation technology.
Particle therapy’s physical characteristics, such as the Bragg peak phenomenon, enable maximal energy deposition within the tumor with rapid dose fall-off beyond the target. This property translates into a superior therapeutic ratio, reducing collateral damage to critical organs and tissues. In adolescents and young adults, this selectivity may drastically mitigate long-term adverse effects such as radiation-induced fibrosis, secondary cancers, and endocrine dysfunction, all of which critically impact long-term survivorship and quality of life.
Professor Esther Troost emphasizes the dual focus of the KAYAC+ study: rigorous clinical documentation of particle therapy outcomes alongside translational research into radiation technologies and imaging innovations. These efforts aim to optimize treatment personalization by integrating real-time imaging guidance and adaptive radiation planning, thereby improving tumor targeting precision while sparing normal tissues to the maximum extent possible.
Institutional collaboration is a hallmark of this initiative. The OncoRay Center, a joint effort combining expertise from TU Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, and the University Hospital Dresden, exemplifies integrated research and clinical excellence. The center not only facilitates proton therapy for complex cases—such as tumors of the brain, skull base, salivary glands, head and neck region, esophagus, and lungs—but also pioneers biologically tailored, technologically refined radiotherapy approaches aimed at improving survival metrics and reducing late complications for young patients.
The broader framework supporting the KAYAC+ project is the European Partnership for Radiation Protection Research, known as PIANOFORTE. This consortium, involving 58 partners from 22 European countries plus the UK and Norway, promotes innovation in radiation protection and therapy. Coordinated by the French Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection, and co-funded by the EURATOM program, PIANOFORTE links research in radiation biology, physics, and clinical oncology to European health policy goals, including cancer control and sustainable industrial safety.
University Medicine Dresden’s commitment to this research underscores a strategic vision that merges cutting-edge science with patient-centric care. As Prof. Uwe Platzbecker, Medical Director at UKD, notes, the synergy between research and clinical services is fundamental for evolving Dresden into a premier hub for innovative cancer treatment—ultimately delivering enhanced therapeutic efficacy and improved quality of life for adolescents and young adults confronting cancer.
Through international collaboration, novel radiation technology, and a dedicated focus on this vulnerable patient cohort, the KAYAC+ project positions itself at the forefront of addressing one of oncology’s most pressing unmet needs. By deepening understanding of treatment outcomes and refining radiotherapy techniques, this initiative holds promise for transforming the prognosis and long-term health trajectories of young cancer patients across Europe.
Subject of Research: Radiation therapy optimization and treatment outcomes in adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39) diagnosed with cancer, with a focus on particle therapy and prevention of secondary tumors.
Article Title: Not specified in the source content.
News Publication Date: Not specified in the source content.
Web References: Not specified in the source content.
References: Not specified in the source content.
Image Credits: Not specified in the source content.
Keywords: Cancer; Radiation Therapy; Particle Therapy; Proton Therapy; Adolescents and Young Adults; Secondary Tumors; Radiotherapy Outcomes; OncoRay Center; European Partnership for Radiation Protection Research; PIANOFORTE; Multimodal Cancer Treatment; Imaging-Guided Radiotherapy
Tags: adolescent cancer treatmentcancer biology in adolescentscancer therapy for youthDresden radiation researchersEU project KAYAC+improving cancer survival ratesinterdisciplinary research in oncologymodern cancer treatment modalitiesradiation oncology expertssecondary malignancies in young patientstailored therapeutic strategiesyoung adult oncology challenges
