title: Adipose-derived stem cells in radiotherapy injury: a new frontier.
abstract: Radiotherapy is increasingly used to treat numerous human malignancies. In addition to the beneficial anti-cancer effects, there are a series of undesirable effects on normal host tissues surrounding the target tumor. While the early effects of radiotherapy (desquamation, erythema, and hair loss) typically resolve, the chronic effects persist as unpredictable and often troublesome sequelae of cancer treatment, long after oncological treatment has been completed. Plastic surgeons are often called upon to treat the problems subsequently arising in irradiated tissues, such as recurrent infection, impaired healing, fibrosis, contracture, and/or lymphedema. Recently, it was anecdotally noted - then validated in more robust animal and human studies - that fat grafting can ameliorate some of these chronic tissue effects. Despite the widespread usage of fat grafting, the mechanism of its action remains poorly understood. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of: (i) mechanisms of chronic radiation injury and its clinical manifestations; (ii) biological properties of fat grafts and their key constituent, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs); and (iii) the role of ADSCs in radiotherapy-induced soft-tissue injury.
authors: Regenerative Surgery Group, O'Brien Institute , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ; Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ; Regenerative Surgery Group, Australian Catholic University and O'Brien Institute Tissue Engineering Centre (AORTEC) , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia.
authors: Lipi
authors: L
authors: Shukla
authors: Regenerative Surgery Group, O'Brien Institute , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ; Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ; Regenerative Surgery Group, Australian Catholic University and O'Brien Institute Tissue Engineering Centre (AORTEC) , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ; Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, VIC , Australia.
authors: Wayne A
authors: WA
authors: Morrison
authors: Regenerative Surgery Group, O'Brien Institute , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ; Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ; Regenerative Surgery Group, Australian Catholic University and O'Brien Institute Tissue Engineering Centre (AORTEC) , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ; Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, VIC , Australia.
authors: Ramin
authors: R
authors: Shayan
keywords: adipose-derived stem cells; autologous fat grafting; cancer; radiation; radiotherapy; reconstruction; soft-tissue injury