THE JANEWAY-LECTURE-1992 - 9 DECADES OF RADIOBIOLOGY - IS RADIATION-THERAPY ANY THE BETTER FOR IT

Nine decades have elapsed since Pierre Curie performed the first radio biologic experiment when he used a radium tube to produce an ulcer on his arm and charted its progress and ultimate heating. A wide range of topics have been investigated in experimental radiation biology from chromosomal aberrations to fractionation effects in normal tissues to the use of neutrons and bioreductive drugs. Many of the strategies use d in clinical radiation therapy, including hyperfractionation and acce lerated treatment, are firmly based on laboratory experiments conducte d in the past. Much current research is focused on understanding the m olecular genetics of cancer to identify the genes that are activated o r deleted in cells exposed to radiation. Radiobiology has played a key role in shaping radiation therapy into the vigorous, scientifically b ased, and highly quantitative branch of medicine that it is currently. In addition, research is preparing the field for the future when trea tment protocols must be based on molecular rather than cellular biolog y.