Journal of Cancer Immunology & Therapy

All submissions of the EM system will be redirected to Online Manuscript Submission System. Authors are requested to submit articles directly to Online Manuscript Submission System of respective journal.

Mini Review - Journal of Cancer Immunology & Therapy (2024) Volume 7, Issue 3

Combating cancer: How radiation therapy is saving lives.

Nalee Lim *

Department of Radiation Oncology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea

*Corresponding Author:
Nalee Lim
Department of Radiation Oncology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea
E-mail: Na.lim@skku.edu

Received: 03-Jun -2024, Manuscript No. AAJCIT-24-138047; Editor assigned: 04-Jun-2024, PreQC No. AAJCIT-24-138047 (PQ); Reviewed:18-Jun-2024, QC No. AAJCIT-24-138047; Revised:24-Jun-2024, Manuscript No. AAJCIT-24-138047 (R); Published:01-Jul-2024, DOI:10.35841/aara-7.3.210

Citation: Lim N., Combating cancer: How radiation therapy is saving lives. J Cancer Immunol Ther. 2024;7(3):210

Visit for more related articles at Journal of Cancer Immunology & Therapy

Introduction

Cancer continues to be one of the most formidable challenges to human health and well-being worldwide. In the arsenal against this relentless disease, radiation therapy emerges as a potent weapon, offering hope and healing to millions of patients. With its precision and efficacy, radiation therapy stands at the forefront of modern oncology, playing a pivotal role in saving lives and improving outcomes. In this article, we explore the transformative impact of radiation therapy in combating cancer, highlighting its mechanisms, applications, and ongoing advancements [1].

By damaging the DNA within cancer cells, radiation therapy inhibits their ability to grow and proliferate, ultimately leading to cell death. This targeted approach minimizes harm to surrounding healthy tissues, making radiation therapy an effective and well-tolerated treatment modality for many types of cancer [2].

Radiation therapy serves as a curative treatment for various localized cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and head and neck cancers. When used with curative intent, radiation therapy aims to eradicate cancer cells within the primary tumor and surrounding tissues, offering the potential for long-term remission and cure [3].

In cases where surgery removes the visible tumor but microscopic cancer cells may remain, adjuvant radiation therapy plays a critical role in reducing the risk of local recurrence. Adjuvant radiation therapy is commonly used in breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other malignancies to target residual disease and improve overall treatment outcomes [4].

Palliative radiation therapy can effectively relieve pain, control bleeding, shrink tumors causing obstruction, and alleviate other cancer-related symptoms, offering comfort and relief to patients facing advanced stages of the disease [5].

IGRT integrates advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scans and MRI, with radiation therapy delivery systems. By precisely localizing the tumor in real-time, IGRT allows for accurate targeting of radiation beams while sparing adjacent healthy tissues. This enhanced precision minimizes treatment-related toxicities and improves outcomes, particularly for tumors located near critical structures or prone to motion [6].

IMRT delivers highly conformal doses of radiation to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding normal tissues. This technique utilizes computer-controlled linear accelerators to adjust the intensity and shape of radiation beams, sculpting them to match the contours of the tumor [7].

For patients with advanced or metastatic cancer, radiation therapy provides valuable palliative care by alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life. IMRT enables higher doses of radiation to be delivered safely, improving tumor control rates and reducing the risk of long-term side effects [8].

SBRT and SRS deliver precise, high doses of radiation to small tumors or metastatic lesions in a limited number of treatment sessions [9].

These techniques are particularly effective for tumors in the brain, spine, lung, liver, and other sites. By delivering ablative doses of radiation with submillimeter accuracy, SBRT and SRS achieve excellent local control while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissues [10].

conclusion

Radiation therapy stands as a cornerstone of modern oncology, offering both curative and palliative benefits to cancer patients. With its precision, efficacy, and tolerability, radiation therapy continues to save lives and improve outcomes across a wide spectrum of malignancies. As advancements in technology and treatment techniques propel the field forward, radiation therapy remains a vital component in the multidisciplinary approach to combating cancer. By harnessing the power of radiation to target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissues, radiation therapy exemplifies the relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence in the fight against cancer.

References

  1. Baskar R, Lee KA, Yeo R, Yeoh KW. Cancer and radiation therapy: current advances and future directions. Int J Med Sci. 2012;9(3):193.

    2. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  2. Xing L, Thorndyke B, Schreibmann E, Yang Y, Li TF, Kim GY, Luxton G, Koong A. Overview of image-guided radiation therapy. Med Dosimet. 2006;31(2):91-112.

    3. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  3. Bortfeld T, Jeraj R. The physical basis and future of radiation therapy. Br J Radiol. 2011;84(1002):485-98.

    4. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  4. Brahme A. Development of radiation therapy optimization. Acta Oncol. 2000;39(5):579-95.

    5. Indexed at, Google Scholar

  5. Borek C. Antioxidants and radiation therapy. J Nutrit. 2004;134(11):3207S-9S.

    6. Indexed at, Google Scholar

  6. Berkey FJ. Managing the adverse effects of radiation therapy. Am Fam Physician. 2010 Aug 15;82(4):381-8.

    7. Indexed at, Google Scholar

  7. Gerber DE, Chan TA. Recent advances in radiation therapy. Am Fam Physician. 2008;78(11):1254-62.

    8. Google Scholar

  8. Bagshaw MA, Kaplan ID, Cox RC. Radiation therapy for localized disease. Cancer. 1993 Feb 1;71(S3):939-52.

    9. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  9. Dropcho EJ. Neurotoxicity of radiation therapy. Neurol Clin. 2010;28(1):217-34.

    10. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  10. Jaffray D, Kupelian P, Djemil T, Macklis RM. Review of image-guided radiation therapy. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2007;7(1):89-103.

    11. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

Get the App