Session Speaker

Implementing the concept of multidimensional radiotherapy into combined treatment for head and neck cancer
Rafal Suwinski, Grzegorz Wozniak, Magdalena Jaworska, Miroslaw Snietura, Leszek Miszczyk
Poland

Recent developments in cancer imaging, computerized treatment planning and real-time verification procedures resulted in widespread shift from obsolete 2-dimensional radiotherapy towards CT/MRI/PET guided treatments. 3-dimensional (3D) radiotherapy conform the isodose distribution to spatial dimensions of the tumor and dose-limiting structures. Modern therapeutic units allow accounting for interfraction and intrafraction tumor motion, resulting in conformal image-guided 4D radiotherapy (spatial changes of tumor in time substitute for 4-th dimension). Such technological advances, does not, however, put a ceiling on further developments in conformal radiotherapy. Current interest of research focuses over conformation of combined cancer therapy (that incorporates surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or targeted drugs) to individual biological characteristics of the tumor. It will result in multidimensional radiotherapy that accounts not only for spatial extent of the tumor but also for its biological uniqueness. Individual characteristics of the tumor can be increasingly well defined based on analysis of molecular signatures. We have contributed to these attempts by analyzing the expression of selected molecular markers in relation to the outcome of accelerated postoperative radiotherapy for head and neck. Our results support the studies that demonstrate the potential of molecular profiles to individualize combined treatments for head and neck cancer, enhancing the basis for multidimensional therapy.