Combining Targeted Biological Agents With Radiotherapy: Current Status and Future Directions

Radiotherapy plays an integral role in cancer treatment. Approximately 60% of cancer patients will receive radiotherapy at some point in their treatment. A major improvement in patient outcomes occurs with the use of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The combination of targeted biological agents with radiotherapy is the latest cutting-edge extension in cancer therapy for radiation oncologists. Combining Targeted Biological Agents with Radiotherapy: Current Status and Future Directions is an overview of the current state of clinical and pre-clinical research in combining radiotherapy with targeted biological agents to fight cancer. The text provides a general overview of targeted agents, reviews the current clinical trials, and includes a look at the future of this state-of-the-art practice. This book begins with a general overview of the topic, including an introduction to the subject; the basic science rationale behind the two most important current targeted agents: epidermal growth factor (EGFR) receptors and vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors; the dermatologic manifestations of targeted agents; and an introduction to radioimmunotherapy a treatment that has the ability to combine targeted agents directly with radiotherapy. The second half of the book focuses on specific disease sites, including malignant gliomas, head and neck, lung, pancreatic, cervical, and endometrial cancers. Biologically targeted agents promise to be the next significant breakthrough in cancer therapy. Written by leading experts in the field, Combining Targeted Biological Agents with Radiotherapy is a comprehensive evaluation of the entire field. (20100503)