Radiation-induced lung injury.
Radiation therapy (RT) for thoracic-region tumors often causes lung injury. The incidence of lung toxicity depends on the method of assessment (eg, radiographs, patient's symptoms, or functional endpoints such as pulmonary function tests). Three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning tools provide dosimetric predictors for the risk of symptomatic RT-induced lung injury and allow for beams to be selected to minimize these risks. A variety of cytokines have been implicated as indicators/mediators of lung injury. Recent work suggests that injury-associated tissue hypoxia perpetuates further injury. Sophisticated planning/delivery methods, such as intensity modulation, plus radioprotectors such as amifostine, hold promise to reduce the incidence of RT-induced lung injury.
Marks
Lawrence B
LB
Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. marks@radonc.duke.edu
Yu
Xiaoli
X
Vujaskovic
Zjelko
Z
Small
William
W
Folz
Rodney
R
Anscher
Mitchell S
MS
D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy