Bystander effects: a concept in need of clarification.
An increasing body of evidence indicates that the response to genotoxic agents such as radiation or drugs is a group phenomenon, rather than the summed response of individual independent cells to injury. Thus, a complex contagion-like response may spread beyond the initial impact of an agent to enlarge its effect. This indirect effect, termed "Bystander Effect," is multifaceted and may play a significant role in the therapy of tumors and in carcinogenesis. A better understanding of this phenomenon is needed in order to modulate treatment protocols to therapeutic advantage and to provide more rational guidelines for the evaluation of environmental hazards.
Djordjevic
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Department of Radiation Oncology, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced
D002273:Carcinogens