Targeted Radiation Therapy
Nearly all new forms of radiation therapy are targeted, meaning the radiation is targeted at an identified tumor. Targeting radiation to the tumor helps to spare nearby healthy tissue and delivers higher doses of radiation to the cancerous cells. Mesothelioma patients who receive radiation therapy typically receive some form of targeted radiation, which can be particularly useful in delivering radiation to the unique growth pattern of mesothelioma tumors.
Creating a treatment plan for delivering radiation therapy to patients with mesothelioma involves identifying:
- A target volume, meaning the size of the mesothelioma tumor(s) to be irradiated
- The dose of radiation that will be given at each treatment session
- How many treatment sessions, known as fractions, will be needed
For more details about a radiation treatment plan, ask for a free copy of the Mesothelioma Center's informational packet. The packet contains information about specialists who treat the disease, cancer centers, treatments and other therapies. Fill out this form to get your packet delivered overnight.
Targeting radiation closer to the tumor and away from normal cells is easier on the patient, as they receive less harmful radiation to healthy organs and thus tend to experience less side effects. For example, when traditional external beam radiation is performed, a larger volume than the tumor is irradiated to ensure that treatment is successful in shrinking the mesothelioma. However, this also means that there is a chance that a lot of normal tissue will be harmed, and that the patient will experience increased side effects.
This side effect reducing factor is why new methods of delivering radiotherapy are being created to more exactly conform to the margins around the tumor and spare organs that may be at risk for damage. Some of these newer methods for mesothelioma patients include image-guided radiation therapy and brachytherapy.
Imaging Helps Pinpoint Radiation Targets
Imaging scans can provide extremely helpful information to doctors preparing a radiation therapy plan for mesothelioma patients. For example, positron emission tomography scans (PET scans) can significantly improve the accuracy of disease staging and the identification of the tumor's target volume. One type of PET scan, called fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), uses a radioactive glucose tracer, a substance that has a radioisotope added to it that can track the metabolism of glucose within the cell. Since tumor cells metabolize glucose for growth, tracing this process makes finding a hidden mesothelioma tumor easier; it also makes pinpointing the extent of the geographic location of the tumor more efficient.
FDG-PET imaging is much more accurate than computerized tomography (CT) imaging alone for identifying mesothelioma-affected lymph nodes within the region where blood vessels and nerves attach to the lungs, and within the part of the thoracic cavity between the lungs where organs like the heart and the esophagus are located.
Certain imaging equipment is also used to compensate for target motion during treatment. The position of a mesothelioma tumor does not remain static during radiation therapy because of breathing. To avoid making an error in directing the radiation beams at the wrong location, time-resolved 4DCT, maximum intensity projection CT, and time-averaged CT, are being used to allow for the natural shifting of tumor position.
Newer Forms of Radiation Therapy Deliver Targeted Treatment
Mesothelioma patients who qualify for radiation therapy generally undergo one of the following newer forms of targeted radiation:
- Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) - Using data from other imaging scans the patient has undergone, this technique produces three-dimensional tumor images that are used to target a high-dose radiation beam that changes shape and size to correspond to the tumor. It minimizes the risk of radiation exposure of nearby healthy organs.
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) - Involving a more complicated planning process than 3D-CRT, this method can deliver varying intensities of radioactive beams across a targeted tumor. IMRT is more complex to administer than 3D-CRT, but detailed targeting of the tumor allows this method to deliver greater tumor coverage while sparing healthy cells.
- Brachytherapy - This is a surgical procedure in which radioactive balls called "seeds" are directly implanted in or near the tumor site. As with other forms of radiation therapy for mesothelioma, brachytherapy is palliative, meaning it relieves symptoms but it doesn't cure the cancer.
If you still have questions about targeted radiation therapy, call (800) 615-2270 to speak with a Patient Advocate at the Mesothelioma Center. Our advocates answer questions about doctors, treatment centers and treatments for all asbestos related diseases.
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Last Modified Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
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