Regenerative Medicine to Reduce the Side Effects from Radiotherapy Causing Skin Cancer, Fibrosis, Neuropathic Pain and Hair Loss

Abstract

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the gold standard treatments used for cancer. Side effects from medical radiation can be significant, particularly external beam therapy to the breast, and head and neck regions causing fibrosis, secondary skin cancer, hair loss, oral mucositis and neuropathic pain. There is significant psychological stress, depression, anxiety and loss of self esteem particularly for female patients. Similar types of space radiation are known to damage the health of astronauts. Current treatments for scarring, tissue loss, hair loss and neuropathic pain are a high priority but inadequate. Regenerative medicine is a new and comprehensive approach to potentially treat complex medical conditions from radiation damage. Regenerative medicine combines a systematic evidence based approach with the use of herbal medicine, stem cells, peptides and 3D tissue engineering. These fields use sophisticated technology to identify the respective molecular mechanisms of upregulation and protection of healthy cells and down regulation of cancer cells. The regenerative medicine strategies of stem cells and plant polyphenols suggest there is significant potential for rapid clinical translation to alleviate the side effects associated with radiotherapy.