Full Description
This book presents the fields of radiation oncology and radiation biology and projects the potential changes over the next 100 years. The first section describes the status of the medical specialty of radiation oncology and offers predictions for the evolution of the specialty over the next decades. The second section deals with the predictions of the future of radiation biology. This more comprehensive and detailed section deals with two major categories: space travel and the medical and physiological consequences of long-term exposure to space irradiation, and the late effects of ionizing irradiation on humans who have received therapeutic radiotherapy.
Expanding use of high dose rate, small volume targeted stereotactic radiosurgery, and stereotactic ablative radiosurgery is expected to increase the numbers of long-term surviving patients. The medical, physiological, and radiobiological consequences of radiation late effect is described in detail. The current novel techniques of radiotherapy including FLASH irradiation, high LET particle irradiation, and novel strategies for a theranostics (combined radiographic diagnosis of metastatic deposits, and delivery of therapeutic radiation) are described, as well as the use of clinical radioisotopes in cancer therapy.
This is an ideal guide for radiation oncologists and trainees who are particularly interested in where the field will progress over the next 100 years.
Contents
1. Evolution of Radioresistance on Earth: From Single Cell Organisms to Humans.- 2. Adaptation to Low Dose Rate Background Irradiation: Continuous Radiation Exposure Based On Geographic Location on Earth Relative to Other Sources/Hazards of Radiation.- 3. Genetic Mediators of Radiation Sensitivity and Radiation Resistance.- 4. Approaches to Understanding Radiobiologic Consequences of Space Travel: Shuttle Missions, International Space Station, NASA Approach to Research TRISH Programs.- 5. Strategies for Radioprotection of Astronauts.- 6. Prolonged Effects of Physiological Change, Psycho-Social Stress, Zero Gravity, Alterations in the Intestinal Microbiome, and Metabolism on the Response to Space Irradiation.- 7. Lunar Exploration and Lessons Learned.- 8. The Mars Mission Data from Curiosity Rover Measuring Radiation Exposure.- 9. Challenges with Spacecraft Design to Deal with Ionizing Irradiation: Solar Proton Events, Galactic Cosmic Irradiation, and Neutron Irradiation from Interaction with Components of the Spacecraft.- 10. Rationale for the Opinion that Humans Can Never Live Outside the Earth.- 11. Genetic Engineering of Radioresistant Organisms.- 12. Other Strategies in Genetic Engineering and Genetic Alterations for Ionizing Irradiation Adaptation.- 13. Cryopreservation for Long-Term Space Flight.- 14. Identification and Management of Radiation Late Effects in Humans.- 15. Challenges for Future Study of the Late Effects of Therapeutic Radiation in Cancer Survivors and Also Their Progeny.- 16. Lessons Learned from the Management and Prevention of Clinical Radiation Late Effects.- 17. Radiation Countermeasures: An Emerging Scientific Field Based Upon Concerns for Nuclear Reactor Accidents and Radiation Terrorism.- 18. Medical Consequences of Exposure to Ionizing Irradiation, High Dose Rate Fission or Fusion Bomb, Isotopic Fallout, and the Effects of Radiation Countermeasures.- 19. Combined Injuries Added to Acute and Chronic Effects of Radiation Exposure: Both Medical Radiotherapy and Radiation Environmental Radiation Exposure.- 20. The Future of Radiation Oncology and the Physicians/Scientists/Radiobiologists.
