title: Radioprotective gene therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation-induced myelosuppression or mucositis can limit the effectiveness of radiotherapy by requiring dose reduction or delaying treatment of tumour patients. The transfer of a radioprotective gene into normal tissue cells would provide the opportunity to reduce the risks associated with haematopoietic or intestinal toxicity after irradiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several potentially radioprotective genes like multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1), snail homolog 2 (SNAI2), and superoxide dismutases have been evaluated in preclinical models for their radioprotective potential in the last years. For gene transfer and ectopic expression, adenoviral, adeno-associated virus (AAV) or retroviral vectors were used. The feasibility of radioprotective gene therapy is discussed in consideration of the application of cytoprotective agents and small-molecule protectors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further vector optimization for targeted cell-specific transduction and for more stable or regulated transgene expression is still required. However, radioprotective gene therapy represents a very promising method for reducing radiotherapy-related cytotoxicity of normal tissue cells and thus may improve therapy success and the patient's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Heidelberg University, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Department of Radiation Oncology, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. patrick.maier@medma.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Marlon R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Veldwijk
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wenz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005796:Genes / Q000502:physiology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000628:therapy*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents