Open AccessEmerging radiotherapy technologies and trends in nasopharyngeal cancer
Author(s) -
Tseng Michelle,
Ho Francis,
Leong Yiat Horng,
Wong Lea Choung,
Tham Ivan WK,
Cheo Timothy,
Lee Anne WM
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.119
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2523-3548
DOI - 10.1002/cac2.12082
Subject(s) - radiation therapy , nasopharyngeal cancer , medical physics , modalities , standardization , medicine , radiation treatment planning , personalized medicine , precision medicine , nasopharyngeal carcinoma , computer science , bioinformatics , pathology , biology , social science , sociology , operating system
Technology has always driven advances in radiotherapy treatment. In this review, we describe the main technological advances in radiotherapy over the past decades for the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and highlight some of the pressing issues and challenges that remain. We aim to identify emerging trends in radiation medicine. These include advances in personalized medicine and advanced imaging modalities, standardization of planning and delineation, assessment of treatment response and adaptive re‐planning, impact of particle therapy, and role of artificial intelligence or automation in clinical care. In conclusion, we expect significant improvement in the therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy treatment for NPC over the next decade.