Application of Radiosensitizers in Cancer Radiotherapy

Abstract

Radiotherapy (RT) is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Although great success has been achieved on radiotherapy, there is still an intractable challenge to enhance radiation damage to tumor tissue and reduce side effects to healthy tissue. Radiosensitizers are chemicals or pharmaceutical agents that can enhance the killing effect on tumor cells by accelerating DNA damage and producing free radicals indirectly. In most cases, radiosensitizers have less effect on normal tissues. In recent years, several strategies have been exploited to develop radiosensitizers that are highly effective and have low toxicity. In this review, we first summarized the applications of radiosensitizers including small molecules, macromolecules, and nanomaterials, especially those that have been used in clinical trials. Second, the development states of radiosensitizers and the possible mechanisms to improve radiosensitizers sensibility are reviewed. Third, the challenges and prospects for clinical translation of radiosensitizers in oncotherapy are presented.

Elevated CXCL12 in the plasma membrane of locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: a potential prognostic marker

“…Radioresistance remains to be a major obstacle in the management of cancer patients. Although various studies investigated to identify novel and better radiosensitizers for the cancer treatment, the result still cannot reach clinical translation [71]. Our results revealed that nCRT-induced mRNA expression of CXCL12, CXCR4, and FAPα in LARC.…”

Cancer nanotechnology: current status and perspectives

“…The antitumor immunity activated by H@Gd-NCPs can further be strengthened by immune checkpoint blockade therapy against primary, distant, and metastatic tumors. Another approach to address hypoxic environmental impact on RT is to utilize nitric oxide (NO) prodrugs, shown to be efficient radiosensitizers as cell respiration inhibitors, and co-delivery with exogenous oxygen resources [ 348 , 349 ]. Recent work has shown potential solution to this obstacle through a hybrid semiconducting organosilica-based O 2 nanoeconomizer which in an acidic tumor environment releases NO and, via mild photothermal treatment, releases O 2 resulting in enhanced efficacy of radiotherapy in vitro and in vivo [ 350 ].…”

A Novel H2O2 Generator for Tumor Chemotherapy-Enhanced CO Gas Therapy

“…Insufficient H 2 O 2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a profound problem for MnCO-based cancer therapy. CPT is a natural product topoisomerase inhibitor operating via several mechanisms including induction of cellular DNA damage (14)(15)(16). It is also an H 2 O 2 enhancer, inducing high levels of H 2 O 2 in the tumor (14).…”