Radiation treatment of brain tumors: Concepts and strategies

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Critical Reviews in Neurobiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:6509814

Marks, J E ^[1]

---

1. Loyola Univ. of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL (USA)

Ionizing radiation has demonstrated clinical value for a multitude of CNS tumors. Application of the different physical modalities available has made it possible for the radiotherapist to concentrate the radiation in the region of the tumor with relative sparing of the surrounding normal tissues. Correlation of radiation dose with effect on cranial soft tissues, normal brain, and tumor has shown increasing effect with increasing dose. By using different physical modalities to alter the distribution of radiation dose, it is possible to increase the dose to the tumor and reduce the dose to the normal tissues. Alteration of the volume irradiated and the dose delivered to cranial soft tissues, normal brain, and tumor are strategies that have been effective in improving survival and decreasing complications. The quest for therapeutic gain using hyperbaric oxygen, neutrons, radiation sensitizers, chemotherapeutic agents, and BNCT has met with limited success. Both neoplastic and normal cells are affected simultaneously by all modalities of treatment, including ionizing radiation. Consequently, one is unable to totally depopulate a tumor without irreversibly damaging the normal tissues. In the case of radiation, it is the brain that limits delivery of curative doses, and in the case of chemical additives, it is other organ systems, such as bone marrow, liver, lung, kidneys, and peripheral nerves. Thus, the major obstacle in the treatment of malignant gliomas is our inability to preferentially affect the tumor with the modalities available. Until it is possible to directly target the neoplastic cell without affecting so many of the adjacent normal cells, the quest for therapeutic gain will go unrealized.72 references.

• OSTI ID: 6509814
• Journal Information: Critical Reviews in Neurobiology; (USA), Vol. 5:2; ISSN 0892-0915
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BRAIN
RADIATION DOSES
GLIOMAS
RADIOTHERAPY
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
REVIEWS
SURVIVAL CURVES
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSES
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
THERAPY
550603* - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)