Effects of Radiotherapy in Normal Tissue.
Summary
Effects of Radiotherapy in Normal Tissue. Review Article Radiotherapy is a key foundation of oncologic treatment that is used across the spectrum of cancer indications. Advances in imaging, treatment planning, and dose delivery have led to increasingly conformal and even ablative treatments, which have resulted in improved tumor control with no increase in the risk of side effects (or with a decrease in risk) as compared with previous treatments. These advances have facilitated the combined
Content
# Effects of Radiotherapy in Normal Tissue.
*Review Article*
Radiotherapy is a key foundation of oncologic treatment that is used across the
spectrum of cancer indications. Advances in imaging, treatment planning, and
dose delivery have led to increasingly conformal and even ablative treatments,
which have resulted in improved tumor control with no increase in the risk of
side effects (or with a decrease in risk) as compared with previous treatments.
These advances have facilitated the combined use of radiotherapy with
efficacious systemic therapies, including targeted treatments and
immunotherapies. Radiation-induced changes in normal tissue occur as a result of
stem-cell senescence, inflammation, vascular changes, fibroblast activation, and
loss of parenchymal cells. Research into the biologic underpinnings of
radiation-induced changes in normal tissue, biomarkers of side effects of
various irradiation regimens, and new treatment methods offers great promise for
further increasing the efficacy of radiotherapy and improving the side-effect
profile through personalized approaches.
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DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra2506017