Radiation therapy in the complex treatment of germinative cell tumors of brain in children and adolescents. Achievements and problems. The overview

Objective: to evaluate the modern role of radiation therapy in the treatment of germ cell tumors (GCT) in children and to identify ways to improve results. Material and methods: the analysis of publications in the Medline system over the past 25 years. Main results: radiation therapy has been and remains the leading method of theatmentr, but at the same time, it causes the most significant long-term consequences. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has allowed to reduce the dose of radiation therapy without reduction of the effect of treatment. Lower doses of irradiation of healthy tissues are also possible due to the modern techniques of radiation therapy. The "pure" germinomas are highly sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, so the research should be aimed at further reduction of the dosages of the both agents. Treatment programs of nongerminomatous germ cell tumors needed to be improved by optimization of volumes and doses of radiation in order to improve relapse-free survival and to reduce the frequency and severity of late effects of treatment.