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How Imaging Advances Are Defining the Future of Precision Radiation Therapy
Roberto García-Figueiras1, Sandra Baleato-González1, Antonio Luna1
1From the Department of Radiology, Division of Oncologic Imaging (R.G.F., S.B.G.), and Department of Radiation Oncology (A.M.C.C., A.G.C.), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Choupana s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Advanced Medical Imaging, Grupo Health Time, Sercosa (Servicio Radiologia Computerizada, Clínica Las Nieves, Jaén, Spain (A.L.); Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, Middlesex, England (A.R.P.); Department of Radiology, Clínica Girona and Hospital Santa Caterina, Girona, Spain (J.C.V.); Department of Radiology, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (L.O.Z.); Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Medicina Nuclear, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain (J.A.V.C.); and Department of Radiology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain (A.M.).
Next-generation imaging enhances radiation therapy precision by mapping tumor biology. These advanced techniques personalize treatment, improving patient outcomes and reducing toxic effects.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Radiation Therapy
Background:
- Imaging is crucial in radiation oncology, with CT as the current standard.
- Next-generation imaging offers improved diagnostic and therapeutic insights beyond CT.
- Advanced modalities like SPECT provide anatomic and biologic tumor information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the contributions of next-generation imaging in radiation therapy.
- To discuss the role of radio(geno)mics in personalized radiation oncology.
- To explore limitations and clinical implementation challenges of these advanced techniques.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on advanced imaging in radiation therapy.
- Analysis of functional, molecular, and hybrid imaging techniques.
- Discussion of radio(geno)mics applications for tumor characterization.
Main Results:
- Next-generation imaging enables personalized radiation therapy by detailing tumor phenotype, vascularity, hypoxia, and proliferation.
- These techniques aid in tumor volume delineation, prognosis, toxicity prediction, and response assessment.
- Mapping tumor heterogeneity can guide targeted dose escalation for radiation resistance.
Conclusions:
- Next-generation imaging significantly advances radiation oncology by enabling personalized treatment strategies.
- Radio(geno)mics hold promise for optimizing radiation therapy planning and patient outcomes.
- Overcoming implementation hurdles is key to integrating these powerful tools into clinical practice.
