Radiotherapeutical innovations in pediatric solid tumors

Abstract

There have been considerable technical improvements in radiation therapy for the past two decades. In children affected with cancer, these have been likely overshadowed by concommittant major chemotherapy-based advances, and at least in part ignored and misused. This article outlines principles, technological requirements, and clinical applications of innovations that aim at improving ballistical selectivity (such as conformal, intensity modulation, stereotactic photons, charged particles, and intraoperative therapies), as well as at influencing tumors and normal tissues sensitivity to radiations (such as high LET particles, and altered fractionations).

Interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) achieves very good long‐term quality of life in children and adolescents with soft‐tissue sarcoma

“…A major advantage of these techniques is to administer a high radiation dose into a well-localized tumor volume with minimal radiation exposure for the surrounding healthy tissue. 15,16 In addition, a postoperative IRT can be started three to five days after tumor operation. This reduces the repopulation of remaining tumor cells in the surgical wound.…”

“…IRT 12,13 and proton beam therapy (PBT) 14 are radiation dose‐sparing techniques. A major advantage of these techniques is to administer a high radiation dose into a well‐localized tumor volume with minimal radiation exposure for the surrounding healthy tissue 15,16 . In addition, a postoperative IRT can be started three to five days after tumor operation.…”