[What do we know about the mechanisms of the time factor in oncological therapy?].
BACKGROUND
Experimental studies and prospective randomized clinical trials have demonstrated a detrimental effect of prolongation of overall treatment time on local tumor control.


METHODS
In a brief review of the literature, possible mechanisms of the time factor are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanisms of the time factor in cancer treatment are complex and, at present, not fully understood. In experimental tumors, rapid proliferation of clonogenic cells during fractionated irradiation and treatment gaps has been determined as a major cause of the time factor in radiotherapy. Also, chemotherapy can stimulate repopulation of experimental tumors by clonogenic cells. Besides repopulation of clonogenic tumor cells, other factors such as the deterioration of the tumor vasculature with increasing tumor hypoxia might contribute to the time factor.
Petersen
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C
Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden. petersen@Rcs1.urz.tu-dresden.de
Baumann
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M
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013997:Time Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor