Advancement in Cancer Treatment and Radiation Oncology

Keywords

Cancer, Radiation, Tumour, Oncology, DNA

Introduction

Radiation oncology is therapy used to treat cancer with radiation. It uses carefully targeted and high energy radiation to kill cancer cells. It treats most effectively that causes cancer cells to die immediately. Radiation causes damages to chromosomes and DNA. Hence the cells cannot divide and tumor cannot grow. Radiation can be given either alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. It is also used treat some benign and malignant tumors [1-5].

It was treated by Radiation Oncologist. In some countries single Oncologists handle radiotherapy and Chemotherapy there are named as “clinical oncologists” [6-9].

It is introduced by great German Scientist Wilhelam Roentgen in 1895. He received Nobel Prize for this invention. Later Radio therapy was upgraded by various eminent scientists.

Treatment

Radiation oncologists oversee radiation therapy. Main aim of radiation oncology is to destroy the cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue [10-13].

X-rays, gamma rays and charged particles are types of radiation used in treatment.

Types of Radiation Therapy

There are various types of treatments some are as follows.

External-beam radiation therapy:

Source of radiation can passed through external source through a machine associated with a computer with special software programmed to adjust the size and shape of the rays. It gets directly aim to tumor and destroys it [14-17].

It includes 3 Dimensional conformal radiation therapies [3D-CRT].

Intensity modulated radiation therapy [IMRT].

Proton beam Therapy [PBT] and

Stereotactic radiation Therapy.[SRT]

Figure 1: External beam radiation therapy. (Image courtesy: http://www.strahlentherapie-schwabing.de/files/element/text_pic/598540981.jpg)

Internal Radiation:

It is also known as brachytherapy. In this tiny particles of radioactive materials are placed near the tumor or with in the tumor. It may destroy the cancer cells within the body [18-21].

Other treatment options: a. Intraoperative radiation Therapy (IORP)

b. systemic Radiation Therapy

c. Radio immuno therapy

d. Radio Sensitizers and Radio protectors.

a. Intraoperative radiation Therapy: It is mostly used for breast cancer. It can be performed with the x-rays and beam rays. The major drawback in IORT is the rays will shield during exposure. Advanced IORT is planning to reduce the shielding effect and high precise delivery of rays in the tumor. This may reduce the multiplication of tumors [14,15].

b. Systemic Radiation Therapy: Systemic Radiation Therapy can be applied by using radioactive drugs. These are called radio pharmaceuticals. These drugs are put in vein or mouth; they may passes into systemic circulation and bound to the specific antibodies and cancer cells. Directly target to the cancer cell and kills the cell. Mostly it may use in bone cancers, thyroid and prostate cancer [21-23].

c. Radioimmuno therapy: Radionuclide labeled with antibody is used to deliver cytotoxic radiation to a target cell. Antibody associated with antigen is used to deliver a lethal dose of radiation to the tumor cells. It is mostly used to treat prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and colorectal cancer [24].

d. Radio Sensitizers and Radio protectors: Any specific drug which makes the tumor cell more sensitive then it termed as a radio sensitizers. Specifically targeted therapies and chemotherapies can act as radio sensitizers [25].

Figure 2: Radiation oncology treatment. (Image courtesy: http://www.trip2medi.com/images/treatment/radition%20therapy.jpeg)

Adverse Effects

1. Common side effects: various skin problems such as dryness, itching, peeling.

2. Fatigue

3. Shortness of breath

4. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

5. Sexual problems

6. Hair loss and weight loss

7. Developing second cancer

8. Dental health problems like Dry mouth, Mouth sores, Difficulty swallowing, chewing, infection.

9. Weakening of bones.

10. Various psychological problems may see [26-28].

Conclusion

Mostly protons, electrons and x rays are commonly used radiations in the treatment of radiation oncology. I concluded that using carbon rays is an ideal choice in the treatment of cancer. Trails I, II and III are succeeded and achieved the effort. Carbon ions transfer high energy of radiation; this may cause death of the cell. Treatment days will be reduced and 100% achievement in curing the cancer. It may reduce side effects. Various targeted sites includes skull base tumors, malignant nerve sheath tumor, sarcomas, head and neck, lung, liver, prostate and recurrent compared to other radiations. There may chances to applicable of carbon ions radiation in radiation oncology treatment.

Radiation treatment is also used to kill the other tumors. In secondary hyperparathyroidism especially in HD patients clinically been treated with radio therapy and achieved the progress. Localized the parathyroid gland with the planar and SPECT imaging and intraoperative gamma probe detection at surgery. Most of the primary hyperthyroidism patients are benefited with the treatment.

References

1. Kursat O, Engin A, Nuri A, Seref K, Erkan O. Watch Out for the Unexpected:Sole Gallbladder Metastasis in a Patient with Malignant Melanoma Striked by FDG-PET. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther 2015; 6:210.
2. Kara PO, Günay EC, Turgutalp K, Dag A. Radio-guided Surgery of a Patient with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: The Clinical Impact on the Duration of Surgery in Renal Failure Patient. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2015; 6:211.
3. Tacyildiz N, Tanyildiz G, Soydal C, Ozkan E, Kucuk O, et al. Assessment of Sorafenib and AntiVEGF Combination Therapy Response which Added to Neoadjuvant Therapy in two Pediatric Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma Patients by Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (18F-PET) Method: It may Determine the Prognosis. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2015; 6:212.
4. Cao Q, Heath J, Heath J, Zhang J, Saito R, et al. Pulmonary Metastasis on TC-99m MDP Bone Scan Mimicking Metastatic Rib Lesions in Breast Cancer. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2015; 6:213.
5. Mobit P, Agyingi E, Packianathan S, Yang CC.What do Dosimetric Errors Encountered in Prostate Implant Brachytherapy tell us about α/β?. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2015; 6:214.
6. Dahlbeck S, C.Hansen C, deRiese W, Kagan AR, Torres C, et al. A prospective Pilot Study of Single 19 Gy Fraction High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for Favorable-Risk Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2015; 6:215.
7. Levitt D, Slim J, Slim JN, Boulmay B, Galliano G. Albumin-Linked Doxorubicin (Aldoxorubicin) as Treatment for Relapsed Glioblastoma: A Case Report. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2015; 6:216.
8. Goyal S, Kataria T. Image Guided Radiation Therapy. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:179.
9. Clemente S, Chiumento C, Fiorentino A, Simeon V, Cozzolino M, et al.Is Exactrac X-Ray System an Alternative to CBCT for Positioning Patients Head and Neck Cancers? J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2015; 4: 164.
10. Bhatt AD. Carbon Ions-A New Horizon in Radiation Oncology. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2013; 4:154.
11. Fiorentino A, Chiumento C, Caivano R, Cozzolino M, Fusco V. Adjuvant Radiotherapy for an Elderly Patient Affected by Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Vagina: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2013; S6:014.
12. Costanza C, Alba F, Alfredo T, Loredana L, Rocchina C, et al. A Case Report of Retroperitoneal Seminoma and Literature Review. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther. 4:148.
13. Nieder C, Geinitz H, Andratschke NH, Grosu AL. Landmark Studies in Radiation Oncology: Has the Pattern of Publication Changed? J Cancer Sci Ther.2014; 5:115-118.
14. Mackenzie J, Law A, Malik J, Kerr G, Howard G, et al.Improved Outcomes for Prostate Cancer Using Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and Dose Escalation to 55Gy. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther, 2014; 5:188.
15. Khullar P, Datta NR, Venkadamanickam G, Garg C, Sinha S.Comparative Dosimeteric Evaluation of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy versus Conventional Radiotherapy in Postoperative Radiotherapy of Breast Cancer. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:189.
16. Guerrero M, Tan S, Lu W.Radiobiological Modeling Based on18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Data for Esophageal Cancer. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:190.
17. Kruger PC, Joske DJL, Turner JH.Iodine-131 Rituximab Radioimmunotherapy: Durable Control of Follicular Lymphoma. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:191.
18. Dominello MM, Kaufman I, McSpadden E, McSpadden M, Zaki M, et al.Target Volume Heterogeneity Index, a Potentially Valuable Metric in IMRT Prostate Cancer Treatment Planning. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:192.
19. Aydogan F, Kalender E, Rifaioglu MM, Sümbül AT, Yengil E.The Effect of BMI and Visceral Fat Percentage on the Development of Bone Metastases in Prostate Cancer. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:193.
20. Yetunde AO, Adedapo Kayode Sb, Osifo Bola O. Sternal Mass as First Presentation of Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:194.
21. Wang J, Court LE, Rao A, Bassett R, Lee JK, et al. Textural Features on Computed Tomography Scans Predict Overall Survival in Patients with Esophageal Cancer. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:196
22. K. Sinha U, Villegas B, C. Kuo, J. Richmond F, Masood R, et al.Safety of Microstimulator During Radiation Therapy- A Preliminary Study on Head and Neck Cancer Patients. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:197.
23. Turaka A. Radiation Therapy for Patients with Thymoma: When, Where and How?. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:e111.
24. Nalbant N, Kesen ND, Hatice B. Pre-Treatment Dose Verification of Imrt Using Gafchromic Ebt3 Film and 2d-Array. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:182.
25. Chen L, Chen Y, Sun B, Jiang J, Gao F, et al. Effect of Adjuvant Radiotherapy in the Management of Hemangiopericytoma of the Central Nervous System:Report of 5 Cases. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:184.
26. Singh S, Armstrong A, DiFeo A.The Role of Adjuvant Radiation in High Risk Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:185.
27. Taskoylu BY, Ozdemir M, Yalcin N, Gokden M, Kiroglu Y, et al.Intracranial Dural Based Malign Mesenchymal Neoplasm: Case Report. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:175.
28. Zaghloul HA, Rashed YA, Shaukat AA, Rostom YA, Badawy SE.Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Using Multiple in Fields Compared to Wedged Fields in Breast Irradiation: Clinical Impact on Early Skin Reaction and Organs at Risk Doses. J Nucl Med Radiat Ther.2014; 5:176.