Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation delivered to precise areas in the body to kill cancer cells. The radiation overwhelms the cancer cells with oxidizing molecules that disrupt important cell functions and damage the DNA inside cancer cells, thereby killing them. While normal cells can better resist the effects of radiation, every effort is made to precisely target cancerous areas and spare normal tissues.
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
External beam radiation therapy is the most common way to deliver radiation therapy. Radiation is generated in a large machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC) and directed to precisely targeted body areas. Roswell Park’s nationally recognized Radiation Medicine team uses the latest technologies to deliver optimal radiation therapy for cancer care. The approaches used for adrenal cancer may include:
3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)
Using the latest technologies available in linear accelerators with sophisticated computer software systems, 3D-CRT delivers accurate radiation to very precisely shaped target areas. 3D-CRT has become the new standard in radiation therapy, combining modern imaging such as computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the planning software.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
An advanced form of 3D-CRT, this treatment uses hundreds of tiny radiation beam shaping devices (collimators) to deliver a single dose of radiation. The treatment team can move the collimators to sculpt the radiation beams to the shape of the tumor and treat the tumor from various angles. As the collimators move and shape the beam, radiation intensity can vary or modulate, allowing different areas of the tumor or nearby tissues to receive different doses of radiation.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
This radiation therapy uses special equipment to position the patient deliver a very high dose of radiation to tumors in the body (except the brain) over fewer (one to three) treatment sessions. The equipment helps account for tumor movement with body movement, such as breathing.