New developments in radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy and hypoxia targeting Journal Article
| Authors: | Lee, N. Y.; Le, Q. T. |
| Article Title: | New developments in radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy and hypoxia targeting |
| Abstract: | Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has revolutionized radiation treatment for head and neck cancers (HNCs). When compared to the traditional techniques, IMRT has the unique ability to minimize the dose delivered to normal tissues without compromising tumor coverage. As a result, side effects from high-dose radiation have decreased and patient quality of life has improved. In addition to toxicity reduction, excellent clinical outcomes have been reported for IMRT. The first part of this review will focus on clinical results of IMRT for HNC. Tumor hypoxia, or the condition of low oxygen, is a key factor for tumor progression and treatment resistance. Hypoxia develops in solid tumors due to aberrant blood vessel formation, fluctuation in blood flow, and increasing oxygen demands for tumor growth. Because hypoxic tumor cells are more resistant to ionizing radiation, hypoxia has been a focus of clinical research in radiation therapy for half a decade. Interest for targeting tumor hypoxia has waxed and waned as promising treatments emerged from the laboratory, only to fail in the clinics. However, with the development of new technologies, the prospect of targeting tumor hypoxia is more tangible. The second half of the review will focus on approaches for assessing tumor hypoxia and on the strategies for targeting this important microenvironmental factor in HNC. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
| Keywords: | treatment outcome; clinical trial; disease course; intensity modulated radiation therapy; larynx carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; carcinoma, squamous cell; cisplatin; fluorouracil; cancer growth; treatment planning; cancer radiotherapy; radiation dose; biological markers; carboplatin; quality of life; erythropoietin; combination chemotherapy; angiogenesis; tumor marker; hypoxia; head and neck cancer; head and neck neoplasms; radiotherapy, intensity-modulated; ionizing radiation; forecasting; intermethod comparison; nasopharynx carcinoma; cell hypoxia; thyroid carcinoma; nitroimidazole derivative; oropharynx carcinoma; tirapazamine; carbogen; pr 104; hypopharynx carcinoma; tumor blood flow; cytotoxin; nicotinamide; paranasal sinus carcinoma; dinitrobenzamide mustard; nimorazole; advance care planning |
| Journal Title: | Seminars in Oncology |
| Volume: | 35 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| ISSN: | 0093-7754 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2008-06-01 |
| Start Page: | 236 |
| End Page: | 250 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2008.03.003 |
| PUBMED: | 18544439 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC2494523 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 7" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: SOLGA" - "Source: Scopus" |
