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Combined Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy: Theoretical Considerations and Biological Premises

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Advances in Radiation Oncology in Lung Cancer

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Radiat Oncol))

Abstract

Starting point for full realization of clinical achievements of combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy in lung cancer is nothing but full understanding of general theoretical consideration as well as basic radiobiological premises of combined radiation and chemotherapy. Both are nowadays considered as mandatory ingredients in any consideration of combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy in lung cancer, as well as cancers in other tumour sites. More than 30 years ago, four basic mechanisms through which radiation therapy and chemotherapy can interact were established including spatial cooperation, independent cell kill, protection of normal tissues and enhancement of tumor response, the latter frequently replaced by terms such as radiosensitization or radio enhancement. Clinical evidence supports importance of exploitable mechanisms, although protection of normal tissue has never been proven. Novel radiation therapy technologies, occasionally changing fractionation pattern and new drugs/compounds will set the stage and scene for further verification of basic principles of combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy in clinical research of lung cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Lung Diseases, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia

    Branislav Jeremic

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Dusan Milanovic

  3. Bioengineering Research Centre, Kragujevac, Serbia

    Nenad Filipovic

Authors
  1. Branislav Jeremic
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  2. Dusan Milanovic
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  3. Nenad Filipovic
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Branislav Jeremic .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Lung Diseases, Institutski put 4, Sremska Kamenica, 21204, Serbia

    Branislav Jeremic

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Jeremic, B., Milanovic, D., Filipovic, N. (2011). Combined Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy: Theoretical Considerations and Biological Premises. In: Jeremic, B. (eds) Advances in Radiation Oncology in Lung Cancer. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_297

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_297

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-19924-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-19925-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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