Article,
See, Think, and Act: Real-Time Adaptive Radiotherapy
Affiliations
- [1] Sydney Medical School [NORA names: Australia; Oceania; OECD];
- [2] Aarhus University Hospital [NORA names: Central Denmark Region; Hospital; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [3] University of Sydney [NORA names: Australia; Oceania; OECD]
Abstract
The world is embracing the information age, with real-time data at hand to assist with many decisions. Similarly, in cancer radiotherapy we are inexorably moving toward using information in a smarter and faster fashion, to usher in the age of real-time adaptive radiotherapy. The three critical steps of real-time adaptive radiotherapy, aligned with driverless vehicle technology are a continuous see, think, and act loop. See: use imaging systems to probe the patient anatomy or physiology as it evolves with time. Think: use current and prior information to optimize the treatment using the available adaptive degrees of freedom. Act: deliver the real-time adapted treatment. This paper expands upon these three critical steps for real-time adaptive radiotherapy, provides a historical context, reviews the clinical rationale, and gives a future outlook for real-time adaptive radiotherapy.