A new advancement in radiation therapy has demonstrated remarkable success in treating a rare and aggressive cancer with minimal side effects. Tiffiney Beard, a 46-year-old from Redford, Michigan, became the first patient in the United States to receive step-and-shoot proton arc therapy for adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare cancer that had invaded her salivary gland and the nerves leading to her brain.
The groundbreaking treatment was administered at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, where physicians and scientists have pioneered this innovative approach to radiation delivery.
Revolutionary Precision in Radiation Delivery
Step-and-shoot proton arc therapy represents a significant advancement over existing radiation treatments. The technology uses a proton beam to distribute radiation precisely to the tumor area in a more continuous, automated fashion with reduced lag time between radiation dosages.
"Managing this type of tumor is very difficult because of its natural tendency to be nerve seeking," explained Dr. Rohan Deraniyagala, radiation oncologist at Corewell Health. Adenoid cystic carcinoma typically targets the body's nerves, making treatment particularly challenging and often resulting in severe side effects including fatigue, jaw pain, difficulty eating or swallowing, loss of taste, headaches, and memory issues.
Unlike conventional radiation therapy that uses high-energy X-rays, proton therapy employs positively charged particles that can be more precisely controlled. The step-and-shoot technique further enhances this precision, allowing physicians to target the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and organs.
Remarkable Patient Outcomes
Beard's experience has been documented as an extraordinary success case. After surgical removal of her tumor, "which was about the size of a gumball," she underwent 33 proton therapy treatments over three months. Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes and was administered five days a week.
"Amazingly, I had no side effects and didn't miss a day of work," Beard reported. "You hear a lot of stories about radiation side effects, and I just wasn't having any."
Nine months after completing treatment in August 2024, Beard remains cancer-free with no signs of radiation toxicity to other areas of her body, including her brain. The only noticeable effect has been slight skin discoloration on the left side of her face.
Clinical Significance and Future Developments
Dr. Deraniyagala presented Beard's case study at the International Symposium on Proton Therapy in Philadelphia in April 2025, and it will also be presented at the Particle Therapy Cooperative Group annual meeting in Buenos Aires in June. The study has been published in the International Journal of Particle Therapy.
"Proton beam therapies continue to evolve rapidly, and while in this case, step-and-shoot proton arc therapy has proven to be highly effective so far for Tiffiney, it is just the latest step toward even better treatments down the road," Dr. Deraniyagala noted.
The success of this treatment approach has significant implications for cancer care, particularly for patients with tumors in sensitive locations where conventional radiation might cause substantial collateral damage to surrounding tissues.
Next Generation Technology on the Horizon
Researchers at Corewell Health's William Beaumont University Proton Therapy Center are already working on the next evolution of this technology. Through a research collaboration with Ion Beam Application, an international proton therapy system manufacturer, they are developing DynamicARC®, a next-generation proton beam therapy.
This advanced system aims to further transform cancer treatment by creating an even better targeted delivery system with no lag time between radiation dosages and beam angles. DynamicARC® is expected to receive FDA approval in 2026.
While individual treatment outcomes can vary, the success seen in Beard's case offers promising evidence for the potential of proton arc therapy to revolutionize radiation treatment for difficult-to-treat cancers, particularly those affecting sensitive areas like the head and neck.
For patients interested in learning more about proton therapy options, Corewell Health offers connections with proton therapy nurse navigators who can provide additional information about treatment eligibility and protocols.
