title: The use of antioxidants in radiotherapy-induced skin toxicity.
abstract: Radiation-induced skin damage is one of the most common complications of radiotherapy. In order to combat these side effects, patients often turn to alternative therapies, which often include antioxidants. Antioxidants such as those in the polyphenol chemical class, xanthine derivatives, tocepherol, sucralfate, and ascorbate have been studied for their use in either preventing or treating radiotherapy-induced skin damage. Apart from their known role as free radical scavengers, some of these antioxidants appear to alter cytokine release affecting cutaneous and systemic changes. We review the role of antioxidants in treating and preventing radiation-induced skin damage as well as the possible complications of using such therapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Amber
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Shiman
authors.forename: Evangelos V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Badiavas
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D059808:Polyphenols; D013392:Sucralfate; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D010431:Pentoxifylline
keywords: antioxidants; flavone; oncology; polyphenol; radiation therapy; radiodermatitis; radiotherapy; skin fibrosis