Efficacy and safety of proton therapy and photon therapy for patients with craniopharyngioma: a systematic review and meta‑analysis
Authors' conclusion
Compared with photon therapy, proton therapy may be associated with improved survival outcomes and reduced incidence of toxic effects in CP patients. Conventional radiation therapy appears to be more effective than stereotactic radiosurgery.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with craniopharyngioma (CP); studies published 1990–February 2025 in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library
- Participants
- 2,784 patients43 studies
- Comparison
- Proton therapy vs photon therapy
- Outcome
- Survival outcomes (efficacy) and toxic effects (safety)
Methodological detailsrandom effects model, PRISMA
- Random effects model
- PRISMA
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Survival outcomes
- Pooled analysis favored proton over photon therapy for 3-year and 5-year PFS, 5-year OS, 3-year and 5-year local control
- Not favored for 3-year OS
Further pooled results
Survival by radiation technique (subgroup)
- Conventional radiation therapy had superior survival outcomes vs stereotactic radiosurgery
Safety
- Proton therapy associated with reduced probabilities of visual, neurological, cognitive and other miscellaneous toxicities vs photon therapy
- Opposite trend for endocrine toxicity
Original publication
Efficacy and safety of proton therapy and photon therapy for patients with craniopharyngioma: a systematic review and meta‑analysis. Pituitary. Published 26 September 2025. doi:10.
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