[Radiation-induced sequelae: toward an individual profile]

Cancer Radiother. 2008 Nov;12(6-7):619-24. doi: 10.1016/j.canrad.2008.07.009. Epub 2008 Aug 30.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The impact of curative radiotherapy depends mainly on the total dose delivered homogenously in the targeted volume. Nevertheless, the dose delivery is limited by the tolerated dose of the surrounding healthy tissues. Two different side effects (acute and late) can occur during and after radiotherapy. Of particular interest are the radiation-induced sequelae due to their irreversibility and the potential impact on daily quality of life. In a population treated in one center with the same technique, it appears that individual radiosensitivity clearly exists. In the hypothesis that genetic is involved in this area of research, lymphocytes seem to be the tissue of choice due to easy accessibility. Recently, low percentage of CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte apoptosis were shown to be correlated with high grade of sequelae. In addition, recent data suggest that patients with severe radiation-induced late side effects possess four or more SNP in candidate genes (ATM, SOD2, TGFB1, XRCC1 et XRCC3) and low radiation-induced CD8 lymphocyte apoptosis in vitro.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / radiation effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / radiation effects
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / radiation effects
  • Radiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Radiotherapy / methods