Hypofractionated radiation therapy for prostate cancer: biologic and technical considerations.

ABSTRACT: The optimal radiation schedule for the curative treatment of prostate cancer is not known. The dose-response of tumors and normal tissues to fractionated irradiation can be described according to a parameter called the alpha-beta ratio (α/β). In the past several years numerous reports have been published that suggest that the alpha-beta ratio for prostate cancer may be quite low; between 1 and 3. If this hypothesis is true, then a radiation therapy schedule that employs less frequent and larger fractions, termed hypofractionation, may be more efficacious. Multiple randomized trials have been conducted comparing moderate (less than 5 Gy/day) hypofractionated radiation therapy and standard radiation therapy in men with prostate cancer. In the majority of these studies the moderate hypofracti

SUBMITTER: Sanfilippo NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4297324 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature