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Thariat J, Little MP, Zablotska LB, Samson P, O’Banion MK, Leuraud K, Bergom C, Girault G, Azimzadeh O, Bouffler S, Hamada N. Radiotherapy for non-cancer diseases: benefits and long-term risks. Int J Radiat Biol 2024; 100:505-526. [PMID: 38180039 PMCID: PMC11039429 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2023.2295966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The discovery of X-rays was followed by a variety of attempts to treat infectious diseases and various other non-cancer diseases with ionizing radiation, in addition to cancer. There has been a recent resurgence of interest in the use of such radiotherapy for non-cancer diseases. Non-cancer diseases for which use of radiotherapy has currently been proposed include refractory ventricular tachycardia, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease and dementia), and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, all with ongoing clinical studies that deliver radiation doses of 0.5-25 Gy in a single fraction or in multiple daily fractions. In addition to such non-cancer effects, historical indications predominantly used in some countries (e.g. Germany) include osteoarthritis and degenerative diseases of the bones and joints. This narrative review gives an overview of the biological rationale and ongoing preclinical and clinical studies for radiotherapy proposed for various non-cancer diseases, discusses the plausibility of the proposed biological rationale, and considers the long-term radiation risks of cancer and non-cancer diseases. CONCLUSIONS A growing body of evidence has suggested that radiation represents a double-edged sword, not only for cancer, but also for non-cancer diseases. At present, clinical evidence has shown some beneficial effects of radiotherapy for ventricular tachycardia, but there is little or no such evidence of radiotherapy for other newly proposed non-cancer diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, COVID-19 pneumonia). Patients with ventricular tachycardia and COVID-19 pneumonia have thus far been treated with radiotherapy when they are an urgent life threat with no efficient alternative treatment, but some survivors may encounter a paradoxical situation where patients were rescued by radiotherapy but then get harmed by radiotherapy. Further studies are needed to justify the clinical use of radiotherapy for non-cancer diseases, and optimize dose to diseased tissue while minimizing dose to healthy tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Thariat
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre François Baclesse, Caen, France
- Laboratoire de Physique Corpusculaire IN2P3, ENSICAEN/CNRS UMR 6534, Normandie Université, Caen, France
| | - Mark P. Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lydia B. Zablotska
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Pamela Samson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - M. Kerry O’Banion
- Department of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Klervi Leuraud
- Research Department on Biological and Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation (SESANE), Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Carmen Bergom
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Gilles Girault
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre François Baclesse, Medical Library, Caen, France
| | - Omid Azimzadeh
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Section Radiation Biology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Simon Bouffler
- Radiation Protection Sciences Division, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Chilton, Didcot, UK
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Abiko, Chiba, Japan
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Arenas M, Piqué B, Torres-Royo L, Acosta JC, Rodríguez-Tomàs E, De Febrer G, Vasco C, Araguas P, Gómez JA, Malave B, Árquez M, Algara M, Montero A, Montero M, Simó JM, Gabaldó X, Parada D, Riu F, Sabater S, Camps J, Joven J. Treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia with low-dose radiotherapy plus standard of care versus standard of care alone in frail patients : The SEOR-GICOR IPACOVID comparative cohort trial. Strahlenther Onkol 2023; 199:847-856. [PMID: 37000224 PMCID: PMC10064634 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-023-02067-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of lung low-dose radiotherapy (LD-RT) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ambispective study with two cohorts to compare treatment with standard of care (SoC) plus a single dose of 0.5 Gy to the whole thorax (experimental prospective cohort) with SoC alone (control retrospective cohort) for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia not candidates for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for mechanical ventilation. RESULTS Fifty patients treated with LD-RT were compared with 50 matched controls. Mean age was 85 years in both groups. An increase in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (PAFI) in the experimental LD-RT-treated group compared to the control group could not be found at 48 h after LD-RT, which was the primary endpoint of the study. However, PAFI values significantly improved after 1 month (473 vs. 302 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). Pulse oxymetric saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SAFI) values were also significantly higher in LD-RT-treated patients than in control patients at 1 week (405 vs. 334 mm Hg; p = 0.0157) and 1 month after LD-RT (462 vs. 326 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). All other timepoint measurements of the respiratory parameters were similar across groups. Patients in the experimental group were discharged from the hospital significantly earlier (23 vs. 31 days; p = 0.047). Fifteen and 26 patients died due to COVID-19 pneumonia in the experimental and control cohorts, respectively (30% vs. 48%; p = 0.1). LD-RT was associated with a decreased odds ratio (OR) for 1‑month COVID-19 mortality (OR = 0.302 [0.106-0.859]; p = 0.025) when adjusted for potentially confounding factors. Overall survival was significantly prolonged in the LD-RT group compared to the control group (log-rank p = 0.027). No adverse events related to radiation treatment were observed. CONCLUSION Treatment of frail patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with SoC plus single-dose LD-RT of 0.5 Gy improved respiratory parameters, reduced the period of hospitalization, decreased the rate of 1‑month mortality, and prolonged actuarial overall survival compared to SoC alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Arenas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - B. Piqué
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - L. Torres-Royo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - J. C. Acosta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - E. Rodríguez-Tomàs
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - G. De Febrer
- Department of Geriatric and Palliative care, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - C. Vasco
- Department of Geriatric and Palliative care, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - P. Araguas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - J. A. Gómez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - B. Malave
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - M. Árquez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - M. Algara
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A. Montero
- Department of Radiation Oncology, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain
| | - M. Montero
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - J. M. Simó
- Laboratori de Referència Sud, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Tarragona, Spain
| | - X. Gabaldó
- Laboratori de Referència Sud, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Tarragona, Spain
| | - D. Parada
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - F. Riu
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - S. Sabater
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Complejo Hospitalario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain
| | - J. Camps
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - J. Joven
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
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Jiang B, Schmitt MJ, Rand U, Company C, Dramaretska Y, Grossmann M, Serresi M, Čičin-Šain L, Gargiulo G. Pharmacological modulators of epithelial immunity uncovered by synthetic genetic tracing of SARS-CoV-2 infection responses. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf4975. [PMID: 37343108 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf4975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial immune responses govern tissue homeostasis and offer drug targets against maladaptation. Here, we report a framework to generate drug discovery-ready reporters of cellular responses to viral infection. We reverse-engineered epithelial cell responses to SARS-CoV-2, the viral agent fueling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and designed synthetic transcriptional reporters whose molecular logic comprises interferon-α/β/γ and NF-κB pathways. Such regulatory potential reflected single-cell data from experimental models to severe COVID-19 patient epithelial cells infected by SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2, type I interferons, and RIG-I drive reporter activation. Live-cell image-based phenotypic drug screens identified JAK inhibitors and DNA damage inducers as antagonistic modulators of epithelial cell response to interferons, RIG-I stimulation, and SARS-CoV-2. Synergistic or antagonistic modulation of the reporter by drugs underscored their mechanism of action and convergence on endogenous transcriptional programs. Our study describes a tool for dissecting antiviral responses to infection and sterile cues and rapidly discovering rational drug combinations for emerging viruses of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Jiang
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Jürgen Schmitt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulfert Rand
- Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH (HZI), Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Carlos Company
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuliia Dramaretska
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Melanie Grossmann
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michela Serresi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Luka Čičin-Šain
- Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH (HZI), Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gaetano Gargiulo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
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Song HY, Chen F, Park HR, Han JM, Ji HJ, Byun EB, Kwon Y, Kim MK, Ahn KB, Seo HS. Low-dose radiation therapy suppresses viral pneumonia by enhancing broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory responses via transforming growth factor-β production. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1182927. [PMID: 37304302 PMCID: PMC10248130 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1182927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) can suppress intractable inflammation, such as that in rheumatoid arthritis, and is used for treating more than 10,000 rheumatoid arthritis patients annually in Europe. Several recent clinical trials have reported that LDRT can effectively reduce the severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other cases of viral pneumonia. However, the therapeutic mechanism of LDRT remains unelucidated. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying immunological alterations in influenza pneumonia after LDRT. Mice were irradiated to the whole lung 1 day post-infection. The changes in levels of inflammatory mediators (cytokines and chemokines) and immune cell populations in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF), lungs, and serum were examined. LDRT-treated mice displayed markedly increased survival rates and reduced lung edema and airway and vascular inflammation in the lung; however, the viral titers in the lungs were unaffected. Levels of primary inflammatory cytokines were reduced after LDRT, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels increased significantly on day 1 following LDRT. Levels of chemokines increased from day 3 following LDRT. Additionally, M2 macrophage polarization or recruitment was increased following LDRT. We found that LDRT-induced TGF-β reduced the levels of cytokines and polarized M2 cells and blocked immune cell infiltration, including neutrophils, in BALF. LDRT-induced early TGF-β production was shown to be a key regulator involved in broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory activity in virus-infected lungs. Therefore, LDRT or TGF-β may be an alternative therapy for viral pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha-Yeon Song
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Fengjia Chen
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Ran Park
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Moo Han
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Ji
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Dental Research Institute (DRI), and BK21 Plus Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui-Baek Byun
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongkag Kwon
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Kyu Kim
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Bum Ahn
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
- Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint Food and Agricultural Organization/International Atomic Energy Agency (FAO/IAEA) Centre for Nuclear Applications in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Ho Seong Seo
- Research Division for Radiation Science, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiation Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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5
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Little MP, Zhang W, van Dusen R, Hamada N, Bugden M, Cao M, Thomas K, Li D, Wang Y, Chandrashekhar M, Khan MK, Coleman CN. Low-dose radiotherapy for COVID-19 pneumonia and cancer: summary of a recent symposium and future perspectives. Int J Radiat Biol 2023; 99:357-371. [PMID: 35511152 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2074165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The lessons learned from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are numerous. Low dose radiotherapy (LDRT) was used in the pre-antibiotic era as treatment for bacterially/virally associated pneumonia. Motivated in part by these historic clinical and radiobiological data, LDRT for treatment of COVID-19-associated pneumonia was proposed in early 2020. Although there is a large body of epidemiological and experimental data pointing to effects such as cancer at low doses, there is some evidence of beneficial health effects at low doses. It has been hypothesized that low dose radiation could be combined with immune checkpoint therapy to treat cancer. We shall review here some of these old radiobiological and epidemiological data, as well as the newer data on low dose radiation and stimulated immune response and other relevant emerging data. The paper includes a summary of several oral presentations given in a Symposium on "Low dose RT for COVID and other inflammatory diseases" as part of the 67th Annual Meeting of the Radiation Research Society, held virtually 3-6 October 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Radiation Effects Department, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Chilton, UK
| | - Roy van Dusen
- Information Management Services, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Komae, Japan
| | - Michelle Bugden
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada
| | - Meiyun Cao
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada
| | - Kiersten Thomas
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada
| | - Deyang Li
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada
| | - Yi Wang
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Megha Chandrashekhar
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada
| | - Mohammad K Khan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - C Norman Coleman
- Radiation Research Program, Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Rockville, MD, USA
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