BGRT: Biologically Guided Radiation Therapy – the future is fast approaching!
A Vision 20/20 article

R. D. Stewart and X.A. Li
Medical Physics 34, 3739-3751 (2007)

Also selected for publication in the Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research (http://www.vjbio.org/), Volume 14(6), September 15, 2007

Rapid advances in functional and biological imaging, predictive assays, and our understanding of the molecular and cellular responses underpinning treatment outcomes herald the coming of the long-sought goal of implementing patient-specific biologically guided radiation therapy (BGRT) in the clinic. Biological imaging and predictive assays have the potential to provide patient-specific, three-dimensional information to characterize the radiation response characteristics of tumor and normal structures. Within the next decade, it will be possible to combine such information with advanced delivery technologies to design and deliver biologically conformed, individualized therapies in the clinic. The full implementation of BGRT in the clinic will require new technologies and additional research. However, even the partial implementation of BGRT treatment planning may have the potential to substantially impact clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Biologically guided radiation therapy, biological imaging, outcome modeling, LQ model

Last updated: January 14, 2013