Clinical trials and radiation oncology technologies.

At the very start of their clinical training, radiation oncologists tend to embrace technology. The specialty draws a preponderance of technophiles to it, and those few who are not at first passionate about technology quickly become so. This has been especially true over the past 2 decades with the introduction of innovative therapies such as three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and proton therapy. These new treatments promise more accurate and precise delivery of radiation dose to the patient, with the expectation of improved outcomes with respect to both tumor control and toxicity reduction.