Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy: aim for a cure of cancer

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) differs from conventional radiation in several ways (Figure 1). It delivers a high radiation dose to the target that can potentially eliminate cancer. It is typically used to treat smaller tumors that have been detected early. SABR is guided by a special imaging system such as computerized tomography or computed tomography (CT). The CT is built into the radiation treatment machine. Because CT scanning can accurately pinpoint a tumor, SABR is able to give higher doses of radiation directly to the tumor without damaging nearby critical normal structures. Higher treatment doses are given in a much shorter period of time typically 3 to 5 treatments over a period of 5 days whereas typical conventional radiation therapy is given 30 minutes a day for 6 weeks or more.