The changing role of radiation oncology in cancer management.

Radiation oncologists have contributed greatly to the improved quality of care of the cancer patient; this has been shown repeatedly in various reports. The improvements in quality have been achieved because of a greater understanding of the natural history of cancer and a more critical evaluation of the results of clinical treatment. Increasing numbers of physicians involved in radiation oncology are participating in clinical evaluation and in multimodal programs of treatment. Major areas for future research in radiation oncology have been identified. The radiation oncologist is now a fully integrated member of the multidisciplinary cancer team participating in clinical treatment and in national cooperative clinical trials. The radiation oncologist's active participation in multidisciplinary clinical treatment programs is significantly changing the character of cancer management. Integration of new techniques of treatment, new combined programs, and greater emphasis on the efficacies of single treatment programs offer major opportunities to cure many cancers that were previously considered incurable.