The importance of hypoxia in radiotherapy for the immune response, metastatic potential and FLASH-RT.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Moon, Eui Jung; Petersson, Kristoffer; Olcina, Monica M.
- Source
- International Journal of Radiation Biology. 2022, Vol. 98 Issue 3, p439-451. 13p.
- Subject
- *IMMUNE response
*HYPOXEMIA
*RADIOTHERAPY
*METASTASIS
*TREATMENT effectiveness
- Language
- ISSN
- 0955-3002
Hypoxia (low oxygen) is a common feature of solid tumors that has been intensely studied for more than six decades. Here we review the importance of hypoxia to radiotherapy with a particular focus on the contribution of hypoxia to immune responses, metastatic potential and FLASH radiotherapy, active areas of research by leading women in the field. Although hypoxia-driven metastasis and immunosuppression can negatively impact clinical outcome, understanding these processes can also provide tumor-specific vulnerabilities that may be therapeutically exploited. The different oxygen tensions present in tumors and normal tissues may underpin the beneficial FLASH sparing effect seen in normal tissue and represents a perfect example of advances in the field that can leverage tumor hypoxia to improve future radiotherapy treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]