5,000th Patient Treated at WPE

An Unexpected Diagnosis

At the age of 28, Moritz Emde received a life-changing diagnosis: a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation – known as a Triton tumor.
In his case, the tumor is located in the pelvic and abdominal region. Because initial symptoms presented as leg pain, the tumor was not detected right away. After the diagnosis, the active football player from the Lower Rhine came to the Sarcoma Center at University Medicine Essen, which specializes in the interdisciplinary treatment of sarcomas.

Initial Treatment at the Essen Sarcoma Center

In September 2024, a CT scan revealed a large tumor mass that was displacing adjacent organs.
Due to its size and location, immediate surgery was not possible. The interdisciplinary sarcoma tumor board therefore recommended so-called “induction chemotherapy” to control tumor growth and potentially make surgical removal feasible at a later stage. While regular CT scans showed stabilization, they did not indicate any significant tumor shrinkage. As surgery remained unviable, the tumor board recommended proton therapy to achieve local control of the tumor.

Proton Therapy at WPE

The decision to use proton therapy was made because this precise radiation method makes it possible to treat even large tumors in challenging areas of the body in a targeted manner while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible. This precise form of radiotherapy offers considerable advantages, particularly for tumors located deep in the body, as in Emde’s case. It gives him a chance of well-tolerated treatment and an improvement in his quality of life.

With the start of proton therapy, Moritz Emde becomes the 5000th patient at our center. He goes into the treatment with hope and determination, knowing full well that the prognosis of his tumor is serious. Nevertheless, he makes a conscious decision to use every possible therapeutic approach to improve his situation. His treatment is an example of medical progress and the importance of highly specialized therapies for rare and aggressive types of cancer.

Community and support

During his time at the Proton Therapy Center, Moritz Emde not only receives close medical care, but also the solidarity and support of the entire team. Everyone at the center is aware that there is an individual story behind every patient case. Moritz Emde is not just a number in the statistics, not just the 5000th patient – he is a young man with hopes, goals and a strong will to live.

Background: Triton tumor

Moritz Emde’s diagnosis is malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation – also known as Triton tumor. This belongs to the group of soft tissue sarcomas, a rare form of malignant tumor of the connective and supporting tissue. MPNSTs account for only 5-10% of all soft tissue sarcomas, and the even rarer subtype of Triton tumors occurs in the general population with a frequency of only 0.001%.

Due to the aggressive nature of these tumors, there are no specific guidelines for Triton tumors. Treatment is therefore based on the established recommendations for soft tissue sarcomas according to the S3 guideline “Adult soft tissue sarcomas” and the S2k guideline “Diagnosis and treatment of peripheral nerve tumors”. Standard therapy usually involves a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

As Mr. Emde’s tumour was inoperable due to its size and location, the interdisciplinary tumor board recommended proton therapy. Tumors that are particularly large and deep in the body can be treated in a targeted manner with proton therapy. The aim is to control the tumor and spare the surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible to avoid side effects. At the West German Proton Therapy Center (WPE), just 19 patients with MPNST have been treated to date (out of a total of 650 patients with soft tissue sarcomas), including only 5 with a malignant triton tumor – which underscores the extreme rarity of this diagnosis. The prognosis remains very serious.

Stay at the AYA station

During his inpatient treatment, Moritz Emde is being cared for on the AYA (Adolescents and Young Adults) ward at the West German Tumor Center. This ward, which is specially equipped for adolescents and young adults, takes into account the special needs of this age group. In a phase of life in which independence, education and social contacts are paramount, cancer is a difficult challenge. The AYA ward offers an age-appropriate environment and facilitates interaction with peers, which can have a positive influence on the healing process. The ward was set up largely by Prof. Uta Dirksen in cooperation with Prof. Sebastian Bauer.

The West German Proton Therapy Center Essen (WPE)

The West German Proton Therapy Center Essen (WPE) treats around 700 patients every year and is the largest radiotherapy center in Europe in the field of paediatric and adolescent radiation oncology. Due to the technical and physical properties of proton therapy, it is particularly beneficial for many young patients and for the irradiation of deep-seated tumors and those surrounded by sensitive tissue.

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