TY - JOUR
T1 - The Evolving Role of Radiotherapy for Pediatric Cancers With Advancements in Molecular Tumor Characterization and Targeted Therapies
AU - Shen, Colette J.
AU - Terezakis, Stephanie A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 Shen and Terezakis.
PY - 2021/9/16
Y1 - 2021/9/16
N2 - Ongoing rapid advances in molecular diagnostics, precision imaging, and development of targeted therapies have resulted in a constantly evolving landscape for treatment of pediatric cancers. Radiotherapy remains a critical element of the therapeutic toolbox, and its role in the era of precision medicine continues to adapt and undergo re-evaluation. Here, we review emerging strategies for combining radiotherapy with novel targeted systemic therapies (for example, for pediatric gliomas or soft tissue sarcomas), modifying use or intensity of radiotherapy when appropriate via molecular diagnostics that allow better characterization and individualization of each patient’s treatments (for example, de-intensification of radiotherapy in WNT subgroup medulloblastoma), as well as exploring more effective targeted systemic therapies that may allow omission or delay of radiotherapy. Many of these strategies are still under investigation but highlight the importance of continued pre-clinical and clinical studies evaluating the role of radiotherapy in this era of precision oncology.
AB - Ongoing rapid advances in molecular diagnostics, precision imaging, and development of targeted therapies have resulted in a constantly evolving landscape for treatment of pediatric cancers. Radiotherapy remains a critical element of the therapeutic toolbox, and its role in the era of precision medicine continues to adapt and undergo re-evaluation. Here, we review emerging strategies for combining radiotherapy with novel targeted systemic therapies (for example, for pediatric gliomas or soft tissue sarcomas), modifying use or intensity of radiotherapy when appropriate via molecular diagnostics that allow better characterization and individualization of each patient’s treatments (for example, de-intensification of radiotherapy in WNT subgroup medulloblastoma), as well as exploring more effective targeted systemic therapies that may allow omission or delay of radiotherapy. Many of these strategies are still under investigation but highlight the importance of continued pre-clinical and clinical studies evaluating the role of radiotherapy in this era of precision oncology.
KW - medulloblastoma
KW - molecular diagnostics
KW - pediatric cancer
KW - pediatric glioma
KW - pediatric sarcomas
KW - precision medicine & genomics
KW - radiation therapy (radiotherapy)
KW - targeted therapies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116271197&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85116271197&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fonc.2021.679701
DO - 10.3389/fonc.2021.679701
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34604027
AN - SCOPUS:85116271197
SN - 2234-943X
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Oncology
JF - Frontiers in Oncology
M1 - 679701
ER -