Abstract
Since the recognition during the 20(th) century that cancer cells demonstrated fundamental alterations in the regulation of oxidative and glycolytic metabolism, many basic as well as translational scientists have proposed that targeting metabolic differences in cancer versus normal cells could be exploited to improve cancer therapy outcomes. With the recognition that dysregulation of mitochondrial redox metabolism leads to the increased steady-state levels of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide which could contribute to both aging and cancer; radiation biologists have pursued many avenues of targeting oxidative metabolic pathways to both selectively radiosensitive cancer cells as well as protect normal tissues during cancer therapy. Recent advances in exploiting redox metabolism for improving radiochemotherapy both from a basic and translational science point of view are the focus of the papers in this current issue of Seminars in Radiation Oncology. The historical perspective underlying these areas of research as well as a unifying hypothesis for further advancing this research into clinical trials will be presented in this overview.