title: Non-small cell lung cancer: the role of cytoprotection in treating therapy-related toxicity.
abstract: Concurrent radiochemotherapy improves outcomes in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer but produces greater toxicity, especially esophagitis and pneumonitis. Preliminary evidence suggests that cytoprotection might decrease the incidence and severity of therapy-related toxicity in these patients. In radiation-related pneumonitis, the protective effect of amifostine appears to be partly the result of a reduction in the accumulation of macrophages and a decrease in plasma and tissue tumor growth factor-beta levels.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Indiana, Indiana. rgopal@rad-inc.com
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gopal
mesh_terms: D004999:Amifostine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D004999:Amifostine