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Radiation oncology: a century of achievements

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 4, pages 737–747 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Over the twentieth century the discipline of radiation oncology has developed from an experimental application of X-rays to a highly sophisticated treatment of cancer. Experts from many disciplines — chiefly clinicians, physicists and biologists — have contributed to these advances. Whereas the emphasis in the past was on refining techniques to ensure the accurate delivery of radiation, the future of radiation oncology lies in exploiting the genetics or the microenvironment of the tumour to turn cancer from an acute disease to a chronic disease that can be treated effectively with radiation.

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Figure 1: Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845–1923).
Figure 2: The first illustration of the effect of the duration of Röntgen therapy (now called X-rays) on normal tissues.
Figure 3: Graph to show the therapeutic index with respect to cumulative dose.
Figure 4: Imaging and treatment planning

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Radio-Oncology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, CH-6504, Switzerland

    Jacques Bernier

  2. the Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, New York, 10032, USA

    Eric J. Hall

  3. the Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Stanford University School, Stanford, 94305-5152, USA

    Amato Giaccia

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  1. Jacques Bernier
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  2. Eric J. Hall
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  3. Amato Giaccia
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Correspondence to Jacques Bernier.

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endometrial cancer

head and neck cancer

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HIF1

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European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

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Bernier, J., Hall, E. & Giaccia, A. Radiation oncology: a century of achievements. Nat Rev Cancer 4, 737–747 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc1451

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