Asuit trento: first patients treated in the protect study, optimizing radiotherapy/proton therapy for esophageal cancer. Active patient enrollment,...

The first patients have been treated at ASUIT in Trento as part of the international PROTECT study, which is testing advanced approaches to radiochemotherapy for tumors of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction. The aim is to optimize treatment protocols and improve patients' quality of life. Since the beginning of 2025, ASUIT has been actively enrolling patients. The first four have completed treatment with photon or proton radiotherapy, and the Radiotherapy, Proton Therapy, and Medical Physics Units successfully completed the study audit in October 2025.

PROTECT is a European multicenter study, funded by the European Union as part of the HORIZON research and innovation program, involving 13 European reference centers. The aim is to evaluate the role of the latest radio-chemotherapy techniques in improving disease control, quality of life, and long-term survival in patients with esophageal and gastroesophageal tumors, which are among the most aggressive types of cancer.

            ASUIT is contributing to the study thanks to solid multidisciplinary work involving the Radiotherapy, Proton Therapy, General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Medical Oncology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Medical Physics departments. The activity is also being carried out in collaboration with Professor Giovanni De Manzoni of Verona, in order to expand access to the study to patients from other Italian regions.

            “We are proud to have reached this important operational milestone. The start of treatment and completion of therapy for our first patients represent a tangible result of many months of coordinated work,” said Sergio Fersino/Dea Veshaj and Daniele Scartoni/Irene Giacomelli, representatives of Radiotherapy and Proton Therapy, respectively, at the Trento facility. “The data we collect will help us guide future therapeutic strategies for esophageal and gastroesophageal cancers.”

            This result was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of numerous professionals from ASUIT: Alberto Brolese (Director of the Department of Surgery), Daniele Scartoni and Irene Giacomelli from Proton Therapy, Sergio Fersino and Dea Veshaj from Radiotherapy (led respectively by Directors Frank Lohr and Valentina Vanoni), Annalisa Trianni, Director of Medical Physics, Loris Menegotti and Stefano Lorentini (coordinators of Medical Physics in Radiotherapy and Proton Therapy), together with Francesco Fracchiolla and Andrea Martignano, Laura Bernardoni from Gastroenterology (directed by Armando Gabbrielli) and Michela Frisinghelli and Chiara Trentin from Oncology (directed by Orazio Caffo).

The PROTECT study (Study ID: NCT05055648) remains open for enrollment of eligible patients who are candidates for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and now also for definitive/radical chemoradiotherapy. The trial aims to generate key clinical data to improve patient outcomes and redefine standards of care in this field.

For more information on eligibility and participation:

dea.veshaj@asuit.tn.it daniele.scartoni@asuit.tn.it