Hadrontherapy in the context of cancer care in Italy

The present article aims to illustrate the development of hadrontherapy in Italy in a narrative description. A review of historical documents and a search of relevant scientific literature articles was performed by internet, pubmed and web of science. The hadrontherapy projects started in Italy in the 90th and allowed the realization of centres equipped by cyclotron or synchrotron able to deliver proton and carbon ion radiotherapy. The clinical results worldwide confirmed the effectiveness of this treatment modality and the inclusion in the essential levels of assistance (LEA) with reimbursement by the Italian health public system. The “Associazione Italiana di Radioterapia e Oncologia Clinica (AIRO)” supported from the beginning the introduction of hadrontherapy and promoted its use in the clinical setting. Four centres are currently under operation allowing the Italian patients to receive this innovative treatment modality. Nowadays, hadrontherapy has gained a relevant consideration in the scientific community and is recognized as an advanced technique that should be recommended in specific clinical settings. The technological development allows the installation of new machines and could lead to a larger diffusion in the next future thanks to the smaller sized and less costly installations in cancer centres and in the hospitals with relevant oncological activity.