<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) refers to the delivery of a single large dose of radiation within the target volume in a heterogeneous pattern using either a custom GRID block, multileaf collimators, and virtual methods such as helical tomotherapy or synchrotron-based microbeams. The potential impact of this technique on the regression of bulky deep-seated tumors that do not respond well to conventional radiotherapy has been remarkable. To date, a large number of patients have been treated using the SFRT techniques. However, there are yet many technical and medical challenges that have limited their routine use to a handful of clinics, most commonly for palliative intent. There is also a poor understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the clinical efficacy of this approach. In this article, the methods of SFRT delivery together with its potential biological mechanisms are presented. Furthermore, technical challenges and clinical achievements along with the radiobiological models used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SFRT are highlighted.</p>
</abstract>

Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) refers to the delivery of a single large dose of radiation within the target volume in a heterogeneous pattern using either a custom GRID block, multileaf collimators, and virtual methods such as helical tomotherapy or synchrotron-based microbeams. The potential impact of this technique on the regression of bulky deep-seated tumors that do not respond well to conventional radiotherapy has been remarkable. To date, a large number of patients have been treated using the SFRT techniques. However, there are yet many technical and medical challenges that have limited their routine use to a handful of clinics, most commonly for palliative intent. There is also a poor understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the clinical efficacy of this approach. In this article, the methods of SFRT delivery together with its potential biological mechanisms are presented. Furthermore, technical challenges and clinical achievements along with the radiobiological models used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SFRT are highlighted.

The role of the spatially fractionated radiation therapy in the management of advanced bulky tumors

Dept. of Medical Physics, School of Medicine

Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Polish Journal of Medical Physics and Engineering

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) refers to the delivery of a single large dose of radiation within the target volume in a heterogeneous pattern...

The role of the spatially fractionated radiation therapy in the management of advanced bulky tumors

Published Online: Jul 01, 2021

Page range: 123 - 135

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pjmpe-2021-0015

Keywords
spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT), GRID therapy, bystander effect, radiotherapy, bulky tumor

© 2021 Farshid Mahmoudi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The role of the spatially fractionated radiation therapy in the management of advanced bulky tumors

Published Online: Jul 01, 2021

Page range: 123 - 135

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pjmpe-2021-0015

Keywordsspatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT), GRID therapy, bystander effect, radiotherapy, bulky tumor

© 2021 Farshid Mahmoudi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT), GRID therapy, bystander effect, radiotherapy, bulky tumor