Establishing an Advanced Method of Radiotherapy

The Radiology Institute of the Academy of Medical Science is achieving successes in treating patients by establishing an advanced method of radiodynamic therapy.

The doctor who played the pivotal role in establishing this method is Ri Jun Hyok, head of clinical therapy research section No. 1.

He started his research into this therapy more than a decade ago, when he, as a researcher at the institute specializing in the study and treatment of cervical cancer, came to know radiodynamic therapy, an advanced cancer treatment method.

A reasonable therapy for patients with metastatic or inoperable cancer, it was essential in clinical practice. However, if this method was to be introduced, a considerable number of problems should be solved. The most important of all was to choose a suitable radiosensitizer which helps to enhance the radiosensitivity of the living body. In order to solve this problem, he read the literature and repeated experiments. In this course he proved that porphirin photosensitizer for cancer treatment used in photodynamic therapy has a sensitizing effect on visible rays as well as radioactive rays.

On this basis, in close contact with a relevant scientific research unit, he deepened his research for developing an effective radiosensitizer and solving scientific and technological problems arising in clinical practice, in the course of which he established the advanced radiodynamic therapy that is suited to the physical constitutions of the Korean people and is effective in treating diseases.

The radiodynamic therapy, whose advantages have been proved in clinical practice, is well received by patients as it uses domestically-available radiosensitizer, ensures high survival rate in treating advanced cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer and its recurrence and metastasis rate and occurrence rate of acute radiation complication are low.

He has successfully treated more than 1 000 patients suffering from refractory diseases.