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Radiation Therapy, Then and Now

The treatment of disease, especially cancer, using X-rays or similar forms of radiation.

Linear Accelerator Late 1800's -Early 1900s

Linear Accelerator-Early 1900's.

Linear Accelerator today

Linear accelerator 60s-80s

Paul Ehrlich creates the side-chain theory. Which was targeted therapy, or the “magic bullet,” concept of drugs that go straight to the intended target areas to treat diseases. Currently, as it is more advanced, it is commonly used in patients with prostate cancer. He wins Nobel Prize in 1908.

1897

Computers are now being used for planning treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

in the 1970s and position emission tomography (PET) in the 1980s, has changed radiation

therapy from 3-D conformal to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided

radiation therapy (IGRT). IMRT uses radiation beams with different intensities to deliver different

doses of radiation at the same time. This allows for higher doses of radiation within the tumor and

lower doses to nearby healthy tissue. This allows for less damage and side effects. IGRT is used in areas of the body that are prone to movements.This allows the radiation oncologist to view images of the tumor

immediately before and during the treatment.

1970s and 1980

World War I-Radiologic equipment was used in

field hospitals during the war. French and American

soldiers were trained to take X-rays. Demand for equipment grew.

Early 1900s

The first electron linear accelerator, nicknamed "linacs" , for radiation therapy is developed. The linear accelerator is the most used treatment device in the Western world.

1943

Between World War I and II-dosimetry, the accurate measurement of doses, especially of radiation, becomes a focus

Radiation therapy is the single most effective cancer-treating agent. Today, more than 1/2 of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy during their illness.

1939 to 1945

Cyclotrons and nuclear reactors became available after World War II to produce synthetic radium and other radioactive elements for cancer treatment.

1895

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovers a new kind of radiation. He calls it X-rays.

1900

Thor Stenbeck cures a patient with skin cancer using small doses of daily radiation therapy. Later referred to as fractionated radiation therapy. Fractionated radiation therapy is used today to determine doses for patients. It is measured in units called gray (Gy).

1898

Physicists Marie and Pierre Curie discover

radium and later use it to treat tumors.

Where Are We Now?

Resources

Advancements in proton therapy: Article from New York Times, with a comment from the National Association for Proton Therapy. (NAPT)

Advancements in cancer treatment can take time to develop. Scientists and doctors are working together to find the most effective and safe way to help cancer patients.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/radiation

http://www.proton-therapy.org/nytarticle.htm

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dosimetry

Hyperthermia is the use of heat to treat cancer. Heat can kill cancer cells but alone it does kill enough. Heat created by microwaves and ultrasound is being studied in combination with radiation, they believe this has improved the effects of the radiation.

http://periodictable.com/Samples/088.15/s13.JPG

Video on radiation therapy, specifically to a liver tumor:

http://www.curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/article.show/id/2/article_id/631

Radiosensitizers are drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation. In chemotherapy, drugs such as 5-fluorouracil or 5-FU are known to be radiosensitizers. The goal for researchers here is to make the tumor more susceptible to the treatment without doing it to the normal tissue as well.

http://www.rtanswers.org/aboutus/history.aspx

Radioprotectors are substances that protect normal cells from radiation. These types of drugs are useful in areas such as the head and neck area. Amifostine is a radioprotector that is already in use, there are still many drugs under study.

http://www.radiationtherapyalliance.com/history

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/radiation/radiationtherapyprinciples/radiation-therapy-principles-whats-new-in-radiation-therapy

Carbon Ion Beams: Carbon ion beams are only available at certain medical facilities, none in the United States. They are still under study. Theses beams will hopefully destroy cancer cells that have previously resisted treatment. It will include high doses on the tumor while the entrance channel will receive low doses.

Link: (Carbon Ion Therapy website)

http://www.carboniontherapy.org/

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