Genetic alterations of certain tumors could help increase the response individualized to radiotherapy.

-the radiosensitivity of the tumor, the redistribution of cells, accelerated afforestation, repair of damage to DNA and the reoxygenated which takes place after the irradiation of tumour are the so-called 5 R ” keys to the tumor response to radiation therapy

– oncologists, oncologists and researchers from across Spain have met in Granada to analyze the role of radiobiology in the application of radiation therapy in people with cancer

– in recent years different biomarkers that could be described used as predictors of response to radiation

Granada, March of 2013– oncologists researchers radioterapicose of all Spain met in Granada to update their knowledge of basic principles on radiation in medicine, the role of genetics in the application of radiotherapy and to analyze and reflect on recent advances in Oncology Radioterapica.

According to the doctors and directors of the course María Isabel Núñez Torres, Associate Professor of the Department of Radiology and physical medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of Granada and Amadeo Wals Zurita, Physician Oncology radiation of the Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena in Seville, the objective of the meeting is to promote a continuing training in Oncology Radioterapica and understand the response of tumors and the healthy tissues to ionizing radiation ”.

In this edition of the course have been treated, among other topics, hypersensitivity to low doses in experimental models that could have applications in the near future in clinical trials of certain tumors. In addition, there have been clinical aspects of daily practice, as the definition of the optimal treatment in radiation therapy.

Advances in clinical radiobiology

With the aim of increasing the response of tumors to radiation therapy, in recent years, have developed different strategies that have allowed to reduce toxicity of healthy tissue. In this sense, according to the directors of the course, recently different biomarkers that could be used as predictors of response to radiation have been described ”.

In this way, genetic alterations were found in different tumours could help determine an increase of individualized radiotherapy response ”, underlined both specialists.

The factors that influence the response of the tumor to radiation

During the course, oncologists and gathered researchers have analyzed the factors that influence tumor response to radiation. In this sense, have highlighted physical agents, (hyperthermia and linear energy transfer), chemicals (oxygen and intratumoral oxygenation level modifiers), treatment with chemotherapy and inhibitors of growth factors, among others, as constraints to the response of tumors to this treatment.

In addition, Drs. Zurita Wals and Nunez Torres have emphasized in the so-called 5 R ” chemotherapy: the intrinsic radiosensitivity of the tumor, the redistribution of tumor cells in different phases of the cell cycle after every fraction of treatment, the repopulation accelerated as the tumor decreases its size and the repair of damage the DNA that is generally less efficient in tumor cells than normal and the phenomenon of re-oxygenation which takes place after the irradiation of the tumor ”.

When deciding the radiotherapy dose fractionation, specialist must take into account the total time of the dose and its fractionation, but also the duration of treatment and the time between fractions is important. All of this, always based on the type of tumor to treat ”, pointed out by both doctors.

Lord

The Lord is an Association of private law, of a scientific, non-profit that brings together more than 900 Optional Spanish specialists or foreigners (including doctors in training) whose work is mainly developed in the treatment of cancer and other non-neoplastic diseases, through the use of ionizing radiation exclusively or associated with other therapeutic modalities (surgery, chemotherapy, bio-drugs).

Specialists perform their clinical activity in the field of epidemiology, prevention, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation of neoplasms, especially of the treatment based on ionizing radiation.

Is currently structured in a Board of Directors, and working groups specialized in different tumor areas (working group of Urologic tumors, lung, and breast, among others) or specific techniques as brachytherapy, as well as the creation of a Spanish School of Oncology radiation EEOR from training in the specialty, or attention to the continuing education through seminars and courses aimed at specialists.

Research specifically develops through working groups involved in different research protocols and in close collaboration with other national groups. On the other hand, grants scholarships and expressed the latest advances through its National Congress and has specific collaboration agreements with major societies and oncological national and European associations.