Radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: systematic review of radiobiology and modeling projections indicate reconsideration of its use.

Background And Aims: External beam radiotherapy currently has a limited role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this article was to review available radiobiological data on HCC and normal liver and incorporate these data into radiobiological models that may be used to explain and improve treatment.

Methods: Volume doubling times of HCC were described and used to demonstrate growth of HCC with time, assuming both exponential and logistic growth.