Open AccessAssessing the risk of second malignancies after modern radiotherapy
Author(s) -
Wayne D. Newhauser,
Marco Durante
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
nature reviews. cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 19.575
H-Index - 442
eISSN - 1474-1768
pISSN - 1474-175X
DOI - 10.1038/nrc3069
Subject(s) - radiation therapy , risk analysis (engineering) , medicine , term (time) , medical physics , particle radiation , intensive care medicine , computer science , physics , charged particle , ion , quantum mechanics
Recent advances in radiotherapy have enabled the use of different types of particles, such as protons and heavy ions, as well as refinements to the treatment of tumours with standard sources (photons). However, the risk of second cancers arising in long-term survivors continues to be a problem. The long-term risks from treatments such as particle therapy have not yet been determined and are unlikely to become apparent for many years. Therefore, there is a need to develop risk assessments based on our current knowledge of radiation-induced carcinogenesis.