Dose fractionation and biological optimization in lung cancer.
The treatment of choice of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer is radiotherapy combined or not with chemotherapy. Only 30% of lung cancer patients are operable for cure at diagnosis. Consequently the knowledge of the radiobiological basis and of clinical outcomes achieved with radiation therapy is of the utmost importance. Total dose, fractionation, concomitant chemotherapy are the main factors to be examined. In order to improve local control several attempts are reported in the literature. They concern: changes in fractionation and total dose; the use of radiosensitizers and radioprotectors; combined chemoradiation and molecular therapies.
Trodella
Lucio
L
Cattedra di Radioterapia, Università Cattolica del S Cuore, Policlinico A Gemelli, Roma, Italy. ltrodella@rm.unicatt.it
D'Angelillo
Rolando M
RM
Ramella
Sara
S
Ciresa
Marzia
M
Massaccesi
Mariangela
M
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents