Contemporary Radiation Countermeasure

Abstract

Radiation countermeasures have been investigated for decades, but the search for ideal protective agents for use prior to or after irradiation still continues. This review focuses on agents that have demonstrated as potential as in vivo countermeasure agents and may subsequently be effectively used in human beings. Such agents are categorised as radioprotectors, radiation mitigators, or therapeutic agents dependening upon their time of administration. These protective or mitigating agents are designed to reduce inadvertent damage to normal tissue caused by radiation. These interventions function via various mechanisms of action ranging from modulating signalling pathways to inhibiting cell death, cytokines, and growth factor. Many agents demonstrated promising results in murine models and are being tested in human beings. Amifostine, and curcumin have shown radioprotection, while genistein, palifermin, and halofuginone have been shown to alleviate the side effects in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Though these compounds show some promise as radiation countermeasure agents, there are several associated limitations and the search for perfect agents still continues.

Not Only Redox: The Multifaceted Activity of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles in Cancer Prevention and Therapy

“…Radiotherapy and all diagnostic procedures involving X-rays pose serious risks for exposed individuals, causing direct and ROS-mediated toxicity; therefore, radio-protective agents, including antioxidants, ameliorate radiation-induced acute and delayed damage ( 4 , 31 ). Preventing radiotherapy-induced death of healthy (i.e., non-cancer) cells is an important task; however, to avoid a paradoxical pro-mutagenic effect, efficient radio-protectors should not merely inhibit apoptosis, but also reduce genetic radiation damage.…”

Drug therapy to prevent and diminish radiation injury of the lungs

“…С целью предотвращения и минимизации лучевых повреждений здоровых тканей, наряду с разработкой новых видов и технологий лучевой терапии, прово дится поиск эффективных медикаментозных средств, применяемых в зависимости от действия на легочную ткань и сроков их назначения [5][6][7][8], таких как:…”

“…При введении мышам интраперитонеально од новременно с лучевой терапией грудной клетки ин гибитора TGF β сигнализации галофугинона -син тетического заменителя экстракта, полученного из растения Dichroa febrifuga, уменьшалась степень вы раженности пневмофиброза [5,6,52].…”

2012 Review on the Extension of the AMedP-8(C) Methodology to New Agents, Materials, and Conditions

“…Radiation countermeasures can be grouped into three categories based on the timing of their administration. 298 Drugs in the first category, administered prior to irradiation, are known as radioprotectants or radioprotectors. Experiments with dozens of candidate radioprotectants have been reported, but amifostine is the only one that is currently approved for use as a radioprotectant.…”