[Past, present and near future of techniques in radiation oncology]

Since the discovery of X-rays, the goal of radiotherapy has been to deliver an optimal dose in the target volume and the lowest possible dose in the normal tissues. The history of radiotherapy can be divided in three periods. The Kilovoltage era (1900-1939) where only superficial and radiosensitive tumours could be controlled, the Megavoltage era (1950-1995) where Telecobalt and linear accelerators could deliver high doses in all parts of the body. Radiotherapy has since been playing an important curative and conservative role for most cancers. The Computer-Assisted Radiotherapy era (1995-2010) now provides the capacity to optimise the dose distribution in three dimensions. Dose is better conformed to the target volume and organ at risk are better preserved. intensity modulated radio-therapy (IMRT) allows to "shape" concave isodoses and to spare the parotids when irradiating oropharyngeal tumours. Moving targets (lung, liver etc.) are efficiently irradiated using "on-line tracking" and "image-guided radiotherapy". Stereotactic irradiation, first initiated for brain lesions, is now performed for extra-cranial tumours and due to its millimetric precision opens the way back to hypo-fractionated treatments. The next period, already ongoing, is Hadrontherapy with protons and soon helium or carbon ions techniques. In a multidisciplinary strategy, progress in radiotherapy is based on a global approach of the patient and tailored/personalized well targeted treatment of the tumour.