RADIATION ONCOLOGY
Radiation Oncology: Introduction
T
his issue of the Seminars in Oncology is dedicated to radiation therapy. There has been significant progress both in the technology to deliver radiation and in our understanding of the mechanism of radiation and cancer biology. The tools of the radiation oncologist now include external-beam photons delivered by linear accelerators and cyclotrons capable of delivering particle beams. Brachytherapy (radioactive isotopes) can be placed by permanent implants or delivered by a removable source with a high dose rate after loading device. There have been major advances in our understanding of signaling pathways, and the immunology and genetics that now need to be incorporated
into cancer care. These new developments have led to a greater need for collaboration among oncology specialists to develop more individual treatment plans for cancer patients. This issue of Seminars will highlight some of the more recent advances and management procedures in radiation therapy.
Robert Lustig, MD, FACR, and Eli Glatstein, MD Department of Radiation Oncology The Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine Philadelphia, PA Guest Editors E-mail: [email protected]
0093-7754/ - see front matter & 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.seminoncol.2014.11.001
Seminars in Oncology, Vol 41, No 6, December 2014, pp 701
701
Radiation Oncology: Introduction
T
his issue of the Seminars in Oncology is dedicated to radiation therapy. There has been significant progress both in the technology to deliver radiation and in our understanding of the mechanism of radiation and cancer biology. The tools of the radiation oncologist now include external-beam photons delivered by linear accelerators and cyclotrons capable of delivering particle beams. Brachytherapy (radioactive isotopes) can be placed by permanent implants or delivered by a removable source with a high dose rate after loading device. There have been major advances in our understanding of signaling pathways, and the immunology and genetics that now need to be incorporated
into cancer care. These new developments have led to a greater need for collaboration among oncology specialists to develop more individual treatment plans for cancer patients. This issue of Seminars will highlight some of the more recent advances and management procedures in radiation therapy.
Robert Lustig, MD, FACR, and Eli Glatstein, MD Department of Radiation Oncology The Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine Philadelphia, PA Guest Editors E-mail: [email protected]
0093-7754/ - see front matter & 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.seminoncol.2014.11.001
Seminars in Oncology, Vol 41, No 6, December 2014, pp 701
701
