CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 26, 299-309, Copyright
© 1976 by American Cancer Society
New Instrumentation in Radiation Oncology
Max L. M. Boone M.D., Ph.D.1,
William G. Connor Ph.D.2,
Robert S. Heusinkveld M.D., Ph.D.3, and
Richard E. Morgado Ph.D.4
1 Professor and Head, Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson, Arizona.
2 Associate Professor and Head of the Radiation Physics Section, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson.
3 Associate Professor and Head of the Clinical Section, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson.
4 Assistant Professor and Group Leader for the Heavy Ion Accelerator Feasibility Study, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson.
Technological advances of the past decade have resulted in the current commercial availability of linear accelerators capable of producing high-energy X-rays and electron beams of great advantage in the treatment of human cancer. The use of low LET irradiation has been optimized to provide improved local tumor control with less normal tissue damage, for example, a better therapeutic ratio. X-ray and electron beams of higher energy would have no additional clinical advantage. Consequently, future development of new medical radiation sources will concentrate on the investigation of charged particle beams and neutrons.
It seems probable that the use of densely ionizing radiation could double the rate of local control of many cancers, an improvement which would save countless lives and prevent an enormous amount of suffering. However, many patients will continue to succumb to metastatic disease even if the primary tumor is eliminated. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy and possibly immunotherapy to destroy microscopic metastases before they become clinically apparent, may greatly increase the cure rate of patients with primary tumors eradicated by combinations of surgery and irradiation. If adjuvant chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy are found to be even moderately successful, improved local and regional tumor control by irradiation will, to a great extent, be translated into cures.
