Advances in treatment techniques: stereotactic body radiation therapy and the spread of hypofractionation

Radiation therapy (RT) is an essential component of the management of many cancers. Traditionally, a course of external bream RT often involved daily treatments for a duration of 6 weeks or longer in some instances. Now, however, emerging clinical evidence indicates that, for some common cancers, the total length of treatment can be substantially shortened, offering convenience to patients and opportunities for resource utilization efficiencies. This trend toward so-called hypofractionated RT has been supported by hypothesis-driven clinical research guided by a combination of radiobiological and clinical insights and technological enhancements. The present review presents the rationale behind and current status of hypofractionation for prostate, breast, and medically inoperable early stage lung cancer.