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Biran A, Dobson C, Rees C, Brooks-Pearson R, Cunliffe A, Durrant L, Hancock J, Ludlow H, Neilson L, Wilson A, Sharp L. From pelvic radiation to social isolation: a qualitative study of survivors' experiences of chronic bowel symptoms after pelvic radiotherapy. J Cancer Surviv 2024:10.1007/s11764-023-01527-6. [PMID: 38182936 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-023-01527-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We explored survivors' experiences of chronic bowel symptoms following pelvic radiotherapy, strategies employed in living with these symptoms, effects on daily activities, and roles at home and in the workplace. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 individuals (10 gynaecological, 14 prostate, four anal/rectal cancer survivors) who had completed pelvic radiotherapy at least six months prior to data collection and who had experience of bowel symptoms during this post-treatment period. Reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken. RESULTS We propose four themes describing a process leading from experience of symptoms to withdrawal from activities and roles. These are (1) losing control (the experience of unintended anal leakage or discharge); (2) experiencing embarrassment and fear (the experience of embarrassment or fear of embarrassment as a result of discharge becoming public); (3) managing and reacting (acting to reduce the likelihood of discharge or to prevent this becoming public); and (4) restriction and withdrawal (avoiding specific activities or situations so as to reduce or remove the risk of embarrassment). Returning to the workplace presented additional challenges across these themes. CONCLUSIONS Impacts of chronic bowel symptoms can be severe. Survivors employ a variety of methods and strategies in living with their symptoms. Some of these support continued role fulfilment but some constitute a withdrawal from pre-treatment roles. Current healthcare provision and statutory protections fail to fully meet needs following pelvic radiotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS There is a need to develop and implement evidence-based services and supported self-management programmes for survivors experiencing chronic bowel problems post-radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Biran
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - C Dobson
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - C Rees
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - R Brooks-Pearson
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - A Cunliffe
- South East London Cancer Alliance, London, UK
| | - L Durrant
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, UK
| | - J Hancock
- North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Stockton-On-Tees, UK
| | - H Ludlow
- Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK
| | - L Neilson
- Department of Gastroenterology, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, South Shields, UK
| | - A Wilson
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - L Sharp
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
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Zumstein V, Parsons BA, Dabestani S, Baranowski AP, Tidman V, Berghmans B, Borovicka J, Cottrell AM, Dinis-Oliveira P, Elneil S, Hughes J, Messelink BE, Abreu-Mendes P, Sacks B, Yuan Y, Engeler DS. The Benefits and Harms of Pharmacological Treatment for Postradiation Pelvic Pain: A Systematic Review by the European Association of Urology Chronic Pelvic Pain Panel with Recommendations for Clinical Practice. EUR UROL SUPPL 2023; 56:29-38. [PMID: 37711669 PMCID: PMC10497785 DOI: 10.1016/j.euros.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Context Radiotherapy of the pelvis is a widely used method for the treatment of malignancies, and local complications including pain following pelvic radiation therapy are acknowledged complications. Objective The primary objective is to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of pharmacological therapies on postradiation pelvic pain. Evidence acquisition A systematic review of the use of different pharmacological treatments in the management of post-radiation pelvic pain was conducted (PROSPERO-ID: CRD42021249026). Comprehensive searches of EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane library were performed for publications between January 1980 and April 2021. The primary outcomes were improvement in pain and adverse events following treatment. The secondary outcomes included quality of life, bowel function, and urinary function. Evidence synthesis After screening 1514 abstracts, four randomised controlled trials were identified, enrolling 355 patients with bladder and anorectal subtypes of postradiotherapy chronic pelvic pain (CPP). A narrative synthesis was performed as heterogeneity of included studies precluded a meta-analysis. A single study reported a significant reduction in pain after 6 mo in patients with bladder pain syndrome treated with hyaluronic acid or hyperbaric oxygen. Anorectal pain was reported to be reduced by the application of 4% formalin, but the use of hyperbaric oxygen in postradiotherapy anorectal pain remains controversial. Adverse event reporting was generally poor. Studies looking at medications used routinely in guidelines for neuropathic pain, such as gabapentin, pregabalin, amitriptyline, and duloxetine, were absent or of poor quality when it came to postradiation pelvic pain. Conclusions Beneficial effects of hyperbaric oxygen or formalin on pain, quality of life, and functional symptoms were seen in patients with certain CPP subtypes, but the current evidence level is too weak to allow recommendations about the use of any pharmacological treatment for postradiation pelvic pain. Patient summary Different pharmacological treatments are used to treat pain after radiotherapy, but current studies are of insufficient quality to determine whether these should be recommended and many chronic pelvic pain subtypes are not covered. Further research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Zumstein
- Department of Urology, Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Saeed Dabestani
- Department of Translational Medicine, Division of Urological Cancers, Lund University, Kristianstad Central Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Andrew P. Baranowski
- University College London and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Victoria Tidman
- University College London and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Bary Berghmans
- Pelvic Care Centre Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Borovicka
- Department of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Paolo Dinis-Oliveira
- Department of Urology, Hospital de Sao Joao, University of Porto Faculty of Medicine, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sohier Elneil
- University College Hospital and the Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - John Hughes
- The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Bert E.J. Messelink
- Department of Urology, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Pedro Abreu-Mendes
- Department of Urology, Hospital de Sao Joao, University of Porto Faculty of Medicine, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Yuhong Yuan
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel S. Engeler
- Department of Urology, Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, School of Medicine, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
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Devarakonda S, Thorsell A, Hedenström P, Rezapour A, Heden L, Banerjee S, Johansson MEV, Birchenough G, Toft Morén A, Gustavsson K, Skokic V, Pettersson VL, Sjöberg F, Kalm M, Al Masri M, Ekh M, Fagman H, Wolving M, Perkins R, Morales RA, Castillo F, Villablanca EJ, Yrlid U, Bergmark K, Steineck G, Bull C. Low-grade intestinal inflammation two decades after pelvic radiotherapy. EBioMedicine 2023; 94:104691. [PMID: 37480626 PMCID: PMC10393618 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiotherapy is effective in the treatment of cancer but also causes damage to non-cancerous tissue. Pelvic radiotherapy may produce chronic and debilitating bowel symptoms, yet the underlying pathophysiology is still undefined. Most notably, although pelvic radiotherapy causes an acute intestinal inflammation there is no consensus on whether the late-phase pathophysiology contains an inflammatory component or not. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the potential presence of a chronic inflammation in mucosal biopsies from irradiated pelvic cancer survivors. METHODS We biopsied 24 cancer survivors two to 20 years after pelvic radiotherapy, and four non-irradiated controls. Using tandem mass tag (TMT) mass spectrometry and mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq), we charted proteomic and transcriptomic profiles of the mucosal tissue previously exposed to a high or a low/no dose of radiation. Changes in the immune cell populations were determined with flow cytometry. The integrity of the protective mucus layers were determined by permeability analysis and 16S rRNA bacterial detection. FINDINGS 942 proteins were differentially expressed in mucosa previously exposed to a high radiation dose compared to a low radiation dose. The data suggested a chronic low-grade inflammation with neutrophil activity, which was confirmed by mRNA-seq and flow cytometry and further supported by findings of a weakened mucus barrier with bacterial infiltration. INTERPRETATION Our results challenge the idea that pelvic radiotherapy causes an acute intestinal inflammation that either heals or turns fibrotic without progression to chronic inflammation. This provides a rationale for exploring novel strategies to mitigate chronic bowel symptoms in pelvic cancer survivors. FUNDING This study was supported by the King Gustav V Jubilee Clinic Cancer Foundation (CB), The Adlerbertska Research Foundation (CB), The Swedish Cancer Society (GS), The Swedish State under the ALF agreement (GS and CB), Mary von Sydow's foundation (MA and VP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sravani Devarakonda
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Annika Thorsell
- Proteomics Core Facility, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per Hedenström
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Azar Rezapour
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lisen Heden
- Pelvic Cancer Rehabilitation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sanghita Banerjee
- Immunology and Allergy Unit, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin E V Johansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - George Birchenough
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Amelie Toft Morén
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Gustavsson
- Pelvic Cancer Rehabilitation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Viktor Skokic
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Department of Pelvic Cancer, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Victor L Pettersson
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fei Sjöberg
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marie Kalm
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Al Masri
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Michaela Ekh
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Fagman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Department of Clinical Patology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mats Wolving
- Department of Pathology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Rosie Perkins
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Rodrigo A Morales
- Immunology and Allergy Unit, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francisca Castillo
- Immunology and Allergy Unit, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eduardo J Villablanca
- Immunology and Allergy Unit, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulf Yrlid
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Bergmark
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Steineck
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Bull
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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François S, Usunier B, Forgue-Lafitte ME, L'Homme B, Benderitter M, Douay L, Gorin NC, Larsen AK, Chapel A. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Administration Attenuates Colon Cancer Progression by Modulating the Immune Component within the Colorectal Tumor Microenvironment. Stem Cells Transl Med 2018; 8:285-300. [PMID: 3045139 PMCID: PMC6392393 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.18-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We here determine the influence of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy on the progression of solid tumors. The influence of MSCs was investigated in human colorectal cancer cells as well as in an immunocompetent rat model of colorectal carcinogenesis representative of the human pathology. Treatment with bone marrow (BM)‐derived MSCs significantly reduced both cancer initiation and cancer progression by increasing the number of tumor‐free animals as well as decreasing the number and the size of the tumors by half, thereby extending their lifespan. The attenuation of cancer progression was mediated by the capacity of the MSCs to modulate the immune component. Specifically, in the adenocarcinomas (ADKs) of MSC‐treated rats, the infiltration of CD68+ monocytes/macrophages was 50% less while the presence of CD3+ lymphocytes increased almost twofold. The MSCs reprogrammed the macrophages to become regulatory cells involved in phagocytosis thereby inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the MSCs decreased NK (Natural Killer) and rTh17 cell activities, Treg recruitment, the presence of CD8+ lymphocytes and endothelial cells while restoring Th17 cell activity. The expression of miR‐150 and miR‐7 increased up to fivefold indicating a likely role for these miRNAs in the modulation of tumor growth. Importantly, MSC administration limited the damage of healthy tissues and attenuated tumor growth following radiotherapy. Taken together, we here show that that MSCs have durable action on colon cancer development by modulating the immune component of the tumor microenvironment. In addition, we identify two miRNAs associated with the capacity of MSCs to attenuate cancer growth. stem cells translational medicine2019;8:285&300
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine François
- Radiobiology of Medical Exposure Laboratory (LRMed), Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.,Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Benoit Usunier
- Radiobiology of Medical Exposure Laboratory (LRMed), Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marie-Elisabeth Forgue-Lafitte
- Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U938, Paris, France.,Institut Universitaire de Cancérologie (IUC), Faculté de Médecine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Bruno L'Homme
- Radiobiology of Medical Exposure Laboratory (LRMed), Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marc Benderitter
- Radiobiology of Medical Exposure Laboratory (LRMed), Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Luc Douay
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, F-75012 Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.,Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Hôpital Saint-Antoine/Armand Trousseau, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Service d'Hématologie Clinique et Thérapie Cellulaire, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Norbert-Claude Gorin
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, F-75012 Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.,Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Hôpital Saint-Antoine/Armand Trousseau, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Service d'Hématologie Clinique et Thérapie Cellulaire, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Annette K Larsen
- Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U938, Paris, France.,Institut Universitaire de Cancérologie (IUC), Faculté de Médecine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Alain Chapel
- Radiobiology of Medical Exposure Laboratory (LRMed), Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.,Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, F-75012 Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
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Frazzoni L, La Marca M, Guido A, Morganti AG, Bazzoli F, Fuccio L. Pelvic radiation disease: Updates on treatment options. World J Clin Oncol 2015; 6:272-280. [PMID: 26677440 PMCID: PMC4675912 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v6.i6.272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed neoplasms and radiotherapy represents one of the main treatment options. The irradiation field usually encompasses healthy intestinal tissue, especially of distal large bowel, thus inducing gastrointestinal (GI) radiation-induced toxicity. Indeed, up to half of radiation-treated patients say that their quality of life is affected by GI symptoms (e.g., rectal bleeding, diarrhoea). The constellation of GI symptoms - from transient to long-term, from mild to very severe - experienced by patients who underwent radiation treatment for a pelvic tumor have been comprised in the definition of pelvic radiation disease (PRD). A correct and evidence-based therapeutic approach of patients experiencing GI radiation-induced toxicity is mandatory. Therapeutic non-surgical strategies for PRD can be summarized in two broad categories, i.e., medical and endoscopic. Of note, most of the studies have investigated the management of radiation-induced rectal bleeding. Patients with clinically significant bleeding (i.e., causing chronic anemia) should firstly be considered for medical management (i.e., sucralfate enemas, metronidazole and hyperbaric oxygen); in case of failure, endoscopic treatment should be implemented. This latter should be considered the first choice in case of acute, transfusion requiring, bleeding. More well-performed, high quality studies should be performed, especially the role of medical treatments should be better investigated as well as the comparative studies between endoscopic and hyperbaric oxygen treatments.
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Fuccio L, Frazzoni L, Guido A. Prevention of pelvic radiation disease. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther 2015; 6:1-9. [PMID: 25664197 PMCID: PMC4318744 DOI: 10.4292/wjgpt.v6.i1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Treatment of patients requires a multidisciplinary approach that frequently includes radiotherapy. Gastrointestinal (GI) radiation-induced toxicity is a major complication and the transient or long-term problems, ranging from mild to very severe, arising in non-cancerous tissues resulting from radiation treatment to a tumor of pelvic origin, are actually called as pelvic radiation disease. The incidence of pelvic radiation disease changes according to the radiation technique, the length of follow up, the assessment method, the type and stage of cancer and several other variables. Notably, even with the most recent radiation techniques, i.e., intensity-modulated radiotherapy, the incidence of radiation-induced GI side effects is overall reduced but still not negligible. In addition, radiation-induced GI side effects can develop even after several decades; therefore, the improvement of patient life expectancy will unavoidably increase the risk of developing radiation-induced complications. Once developed, the management of pelvic radiation disease may be challenging. Therefore, the prevention of radiation-induced toxicity represents a reasonable way to avoid a dramatic drop of the quality of life of these patients. In the current manuscript we provide an updated and practical review on the best available evidences in the field of the prevention of pelvic radiation disease.
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