Innovative Approaches in Precision Radiation Oncology

Radiation therapy has long been a cornerstone in the treatment of various cancers, significantly improving survival rates and quality of life for patients worldwide. Over the past decade, significant advancements in technology, such as image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), have revolutionized how radiation is delivered, allowing for higher precision and reduced toxicity. These innovations have led to better patient outcomes and minimized side effects. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in radiation oncology has opened new possibilities for personalized treatment planning and real-time adaptation. This Research Topic aims to highlight the latest breakthroughs and future directions in radiation therapy, encompassing technological innovations, clinical applications, and multidisciplinary approaches.

The primary goal of this Research Topic is to address the current challenges and opportunities in the field of radiation therapy. Despite substantial progress, there remain significant hurdles in optimizing radiation delivery to maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse effects. Key areas that require further exploration include the development of novel imaging techniques for better tumor delineation, advancements in adaptive radiation therapy, countering, imaging, proton therapy, and the role of radiomics and machine learning in predicting treatment responses, synthetic CT, automation in clinic, etc. Additionally, understanding the biological impact of radiation at the molecular level and investigating new combination therapies with immunotherapy or targeted agents are crucial for enhancing treatment efficacy.

This Research Topic invites researchers and clinicians to contribute original research, reviews, and clinical studies that offer insights into these evolving topics and provide a roadmap for future innovations in radiation therapy. The Research Topic seeks to cover a wide range of topics within the domain of radiation therapy. Potential themes include, but are not limited to, advanced imaging techniques for radiation planning (MR imaging, synthetic CT, PET imaging, auto-contouring, dose accumulation, etc.), innovations in treatment delivery systems, radiobiology and molecular mechanisms of radiation response, integration of artificial intelligence in radiation oncology, and new strategies for managing radiation-induced toxicities.

This Research Topic encourages the submission of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, clinical trials, case studies, and technical notes that focus on both theoretical and practical aspects of radiation therapy advancements.

Authors are invited to provide cutting-edge research and clinical findings that contribute to the growing body of knowledge, potentially influencing future clinical practice and research directions in radiation oncology and radiation therapy.

We encourage the submission of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, clinical trials, case studies, and technical notes that focus on both theoretical and practical aspects of radiation therapy advancements.

Keywords: Precision Radiation Oncology, Proton Therapy, Artificial Intelligence in Radiotherapy, Adaptive Radiation Therapy, Radiation Dose Optimization, Automation of Workflows

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.