title: The use of blood biomarkers to predict radiation lung toxicity: a potential strategy to individualize thoracic radiation therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation-induced lung toxicity (RILT) is an important dose-limiting toxicity during thoracic radiotherapy. Early prediction of radiation lung toxicity will allow physicians to determine a customized treatment regimen for each patient and deliver a radiation dose tailored to that individual's normal tissue sensitivity profile rather than to the average tolerance of the whole population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review focuses on blood biomarkers in predicting radiation-induced lung toxicity. We searched the literature for data associated with cytokines, and we review the updates of proteomic and genetic polymorphisms in radiation lung toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies from single institutions have demonstrated the significant values of cytokines such as TGF-beta1, IL-6, KL-6, surfactant proteins, and IL-1ra on predicting RILT. The majority of studies focus on the values prior to and at the end of radiation therapy. There is limited data from proteomics and specific genomic single nucleotide polymorphism studies that target individualized radiation therapy for patients with lung cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biomarkers or models that can accurately predict radiation-induced lung damage at an early stage, before completion of chemoradiation, would allow physicians to monitor and customize remaining treatment for each patient.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. fengkong@med.umich.edu
authors: Feng-Ming
authors: FM
authors: Kong
authors: Xiaoping
authors: X
authors: Ao
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Theodore S
authors: TS
authors: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D040901:Proteomics; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines