ScholarWorks@성균관대학교

초록

Radiation therapy (RT) has historically played a limited role in the treatment of ovarian cancer because of the diffuse nature of the disease within the cavity of the abdomen and its toxicity to surrounding organs. However, this has recently begun to change owing to developments in more precise applications of radiation and targets that reap benefits on a molecular level. The reader learns how current innovations such as proton therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) can focus the beam without significantly affecting nearby critical structures such as the intestines, liver, and kidneys. Further, the addition of radiosensitizers, in particular, poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, for the BReast CAncer gene (BRCA) mutation-bearing and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors for antiangiogenic effects-augments cancer cells’ sensitivity to radiation and enhances therapeutic outcomes. Personalized RT propelled by genomics and tumor profiling, which tailors the treatment to the unique characteristics of a patient's cancer, is also examined. Perhaps these will succeed where others have failed, offering a better, more effective, and less harmful approach to RT in ovarian cancer management.

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