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Fundamental Radiobiology and its Application to Radiation Oncology

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Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy

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Abstract

A brief overview of fundamental concepts in radiobiology is provided. The concept of cell survival as ability to retain reproductive integrity is introduced, and critical variables influencing the cell survival curve as a function of absorbed radiation dose are discussed. Application of these concepts to radiation oncology and radiotherapy is then outlined. Examples are provided of clinical studies that can be performed with current high-throughput molecular biology and imaging technology. The type of information derived from these studies and its potential are discussed in the context of radiotherapy trial design, radiotherapy schedule and modality tailoring, and planning of treatment dose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Francesca M. Buffa

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  1. Francesca M. Buffa
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Scientific Institute, Site d'Archamps, France

    Yves Lemoigne  & Alessandra Caner  & 

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Buffa, F.M. (2009). Fundamental Radiobiology and its Application to Radiation Oncology. In: Lemoigne, Y., Caner, A. (eds) Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series B: Physics and Biophysics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3097-9_1

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