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Special fractionation (GRID) is a new paradigm in radiation therapy for effective treatment of tumors that defy conventional dose/time fractionation.
The Special Fractionation Radiation (SFR) approach recreates a virtual brachytherapy dose distribution using megavoltage external beam radiation. This method combines the direct cellular response to high dose radiation with the indirect by-stander-effects of human tissue responses to produce enhanced biological effects. This treatment is particularly beneficial for the treatment of radioresistant or large tumors. The “GRID” Photon Block is used to treat these bulky tumors with SFR.
In the Department of Radiation Medicine at the University of Kentucky, over 200 patients having bulky malignant tumors in various sites, such as head and neck, lung and pelvis were treated. Excellent clinical results were obtained using the SFR technique. The efficacy and safety of using a large fraction of SFR are published in scientific journals1.
The “GRID” Photon Block is made of a low melting alloy with the divergent holes spaced in a honeycomb fashion. At 100 cm each hole has a beam width of 14 mm and the distance from center to center of each hole is 21 mm.
1High-Dose Spatially-Fractionated Radiation (GRID): A New Paradigm in the Management of Advanced Cancer by Mohammed Hohiuddin, M.D., Mihoko Fujita, M.D., PH.D., William F. Regine, M.D., Ali S. Megooni, PH.D., Goeffrey S. Ibbott, PH.D., and Mansoor M. Ahmed, PH.D. - Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp 721-727. 1999
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