Tumour Hypoxia

Tumours are commonly hypoxic relative to surrounding tissues and oxygen plays an important role in radiosensitivity [1]. An understanding of hypoxia in tumours is therefore a key element of radiobiology, with hypoxia a target for improving patient outcomes. Here we discuss some of the fundamental principles related to understanding hypoxia as a therapeutic target, including the influence of oxygen on radiosensitivity, the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER), the relationship between the OER and linear energy transfer (LET) and the role of reoxygenation.
Source: Clinical Oncology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research