Radiotherapy Combined with Hyperthermia: The Fractionation Problem

Abstract

The interaction of heat with ionizing radiation in normal and cancer cells is analyzed. The factors affecting the thermal enhancement ratio (TER) are discussed. From the data available in the literature it is concluded that heat could selectively inhibit repair of radiationinduced sublethal damage in cancer cells. Using appropriate fractionation schedules this could be utilized to improve the current efficacy of tumor control by radiotherapy.