Radiation therapy side-effects and solutions.

Study: In conclusion, our study showed that lycopene may act as a radiomitigator but only when applied at a low concentration 24 h, but not 8 days after irradiation. LYC [lycopene] may be used in clinical practice to protection of healthy tissues of radiology patients as well as in the case of radiological emergency.

Study: Results suggest that BGJ [Black grape juice] is a good protective candidate compound against heart damage from ARS [acute radiation syndrome] and its effects suggest its use as a radiomodifier.

Study: Hesperidin demonstrated significant neuroprotection after radiation induced brain injury.

Study: Soy isoflavones given pre- and postradiation protected the lungs against adverse effects of radiation including skin injury, hair loss, increased breathing rates, inflammation, pneumonitis and fibrosis, providing evidence for a radioprotective effect of soy.

Study: Because radiation damage is a multi-faceted phenomenon, any agent or compound that can modify or alter multiple aspects or mechanisms of radiation-induced inflammation and fibrosis while at the same time being both inexpensive and non-toxic is extremely exciting. It is evident from our findings that dietary FS [flaxseed] is a potential agent in mitigating radiation damage and that the discovery of the mitigating properties of FS may prove a critical milestone in the development of non-toxic radiation mitigators.

Study: The studies described in this review have indicated that P.ginseng and P.quinquefolium, which appear to radioprotect through mechanisms involving their antioxidative and immunomodulating properties, have the potential to be effective, systemic radioprotectors that can be used to ameliorate radiation-induced toxicity to normal tissues both in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and in individuals under the risk of radiation exposure from occupational accidents or nuclear terrorism.

Study: radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, given their general toxicity, can compromise the gut microbiome of patients…recent studies have suggested that LGG [a probiotic], administered in vivo, is able to modulate the immune system, reducing the detrimental toxic intestinal effects following pelvic radiotherapy.

Study: …254 patients who had been operated on for breast cancer and who were to receive postoperative radiation therapy were randomly allocated to application of either trolamine (128 patients) or calendula (126 patients) on the irradiated fields after each session. 

The occurrence of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher was significantly lower (41% v 63%) with the use of calendula than with trolamine. Moreover, patients receiving calendula had less frequent interruption of radiotherapy and significantly reduced radiation-induced pain. Calendula was considered to be more difficult to apply, but self-assessed satisfaction was greater.

Conclusion: Calendula is highly effective for the prevention of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher and should be proposed for patients undergoing postoperative irradiation for breast cancer.

Study of 49 breast cancer patients: As soon as Grade I dermatitis was documented, the EGCG solution was applied. The average duration of EGCG treatment was 4 weeks. Of note, 15 patients regressed to Grade 0 skin toxicity (meaning no symptoms) with the use of EGCG…This study indicates that application of topical EGCG at a dose of 660 μmol/L may be beneficial in the treatment and management of acute RDS.

Study: Zinc Sulphate seems to have beneficial effects on postponing the start of radiodermatitis and decreasing the severity of radiation-induced dermatitis.

Study of 85 patients: In our observational study, it was noticed that A. vera gel was effective in fast recovery of high-grade RID [radiation-induced dermatitis]  without any adverse reaction. 

Study: In conclusion, antioxidant treatment with curcumin prior to irradiation, provides effective protection against intestinal damage, suggesting that clinical transfer is feasible. Therefore, curcumin can be very useful in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy

Study: Administration of rCoQ10 led to its accumulation in the intestine and induced radioprotective effects by inhibiting ROS-mediated apoptosis, thereby preserving intestinal structures. Our results indicated that rCoQ10 supplementation effectively ameliorated radiation enteropathy.

Study:  Men receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer may benefit from using cranberry capsules, particularly those on low hydration regimens or with baseline urinary symptoms.

Study of 50 cancer patients: The results of this study indicate that honey mitigates radiation-induced mucositis and that the protective effect does not interfere with tumor cell killing. The cell culture details indicate that treatment with honey enhanced the radiation-induced cell killing. 

Study: Topical oral swish and swallow glutamine and a disaccharide, such as trehalose, has potential to ameliorate not only OM, but also esophagitis and enteritis after cancer chemotherapy and radiation. If cancer patients and caregivers recognize that it is possible to increase mucosal glutamine absorption using disaccharides, there may be less mucosal damage experienced by cancer patients. A small amino acid intervention may make a difference and possibly contribute to better overall nutritional status, improved survival with fewer complications, and ultimately less sarcopenia and lymphopenia.

Published on National Cancer Institute website: A randomized clinical trial of 30 patients with head and neck cancer who had radiation therapy found that those who took silymarin for 6 weeks had lower rates of radiation-related mucositis compared to those who did not.
A nonrandomized observational study in women with breast cancer who had surgery and radiation therapy found that a silymarin-based cream helped prevent patients from having skin rashes from radiation therapy.

Study: Overall, these results indicated that quercetin acted as a promising radiosensitizer through p53-dependent ER stress signals.

Study: Conclusions: The use of EGCG could enhance the effect of conventional cancer therapies through additive or synergistic effects as well as through amelioration of deleterious side effects… As shown in this review, sensitization and synergistic effects of EGCG when used in combination with radio- or chemotherapy may imply reductions in the required doses and, as a consequence, decreased risk of toxicity.

Study: These findings reveal that simvastatin may be a potent therapeutic agent for co-treatment with radiation to overcome radioresistance in PC [prostate cancer] cells.

Study: In conclusion, curcumin sensitizes human HCC [Hepatocellular carcinoma] cells to radiation…In addition, curcumin combined with radiation may have therapeutic potential for patients with HCC.

Study: In summary, RSV [Resveratrol] enhances radiation sensitivity in PCA [prostate cancer] by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell senescence and apoptosis in vitro.

Study: Previous studies have shown that genistein can sensitize cancer cells to radiation. Hillman et al . found that the combination of genistein and radiation showed an enhanced inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis in and growth of prostate cancer cells

Study:  It is concluded that Ashwagandha, in addition to having a tumor inhibitory effect, also acts as a radiosensitizer and heat enhances these effects.

Study: The finding implicates that vitamin D may be a useful radiation sensitizer in human lung cancer cells.

Study: Sulforaphane is a promising agent in the treatment of head and neck cancer due to its antiproliferative and radio-sensitizing properties. A combination of sulforaphane and radiation decreases clonogenic [colony of cancer cells] survival.

Study: u-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might be used as adjuvant for cancer therapy. They could inhibit tumor progression in breast, skin and prostate cancers. The adjuvant use of u-3 PUFAs increased chemo-and radio-sensitivity in different cancers.

Study: Combination of AKBA [Boswellia serrata] with radiotherapy was found to inhibit factors which involved in cell death regulation, tumor progression and radioresistence, therefore it may serve as a novel approach for GBM patients.

Study: Our results strongly recommend Nigella sativa oil as a promising natural radioprotective agent against immunosuppressive and oxidative effects of ionizing radiation.

Study: Our results suggest that supplementing cancer patients with adjuvant therapy of melatonin may reduce patients suffering from toxic therapeutic regimens such as chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and may provide an alleviation of the symptoms due to radiation-induced organ injuries.

Study: The findings in this narrative review show that exercise training is beneficial during active RT [radiation therapy] treatment and appears to be an effective and crucial component to counteract the side effects induced by RT. 

Study: This paper summarized 16 clinical studies on selenium and radiotherapy conducted from 1987 to 2012. The studies included 1303 cancer patients…Selenium supplementation increased the blood selenium level, improved the general condition of patients, improved quality of life, prevented or reduced the side effects of radiotherapy and did not reduce the effectiveness of radiotherapy or cause any toxicity.
The results of our summary suggest that selenium supplementation in the form of sodium selenite at doses ranging from 200–500 μg daily by oral administration may offer benefits for head and neck cancer; head and neck cancer with lymphedema; and oral, cervical and uterine cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy and have low selenium levels.