Eugene J. Koay: translating promising new radiation technologies to patients with gastrointestinal cancers

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer refers to the group of cancers that affect the digestive system. This includes cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and biliary tract, small intestine, colon, rectum and anus. GI cancers are regarded as a highly virulent neoplasm with both high morbidity and mortality. Collectively, they are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide (1). Over the past half century, modern radiation therapy has been established and slowly evolved to treat different kinds of GI cancers. However, challenges remain in giving accurate and safe radiation delivery.