Radiation-Induced Lung Injury (RILI)

Lorena Giuranno, Jonathan Ient, Dirk De Ruysscher, Marc A. Vooijs*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Radiation pneurnonitis (RP) and radiation fibrosis (RF) are two dose-limiting toxicities of radiotherapy (RT), especially for lung, and esophageal cancer. It occurs in 5-20% of patients and limits the maximum dose that can be delivered, reducing tumor control probability (TCP) and may lead to dyspnea, lung fibrosis, and impaired quality of life. Both physical and biological factors determine the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) by Radiotherapy. A better understanding of the pathophysiological sequence of radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) and the intrinsic, environmental and treatment-related factors may aid in the prevention, and better management of radiation-induced lung damage. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the pathological and molecular consequences of lung exposure to ionizing radiation, and pharmaceutical interventions that may be beneficial in the prevention or curtailment of RILI, and therefore enable a more durable therapeutic tumor response.

Original languageEnglish
Article number877
Number of pages16
JournalFrontiers in Oncology
Volume9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2019

Keywords

  • radiotherapy
  • adverse effects
  • RILI
  • RILT
  • pneumonitis
  • fibrosis
  • lung
  • DOSE-VOLUME HISTOGRAM
  • SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM
  • INDUCED PULMONARY INJURY
  • MESENCHYMAL STEM-CELLS
  • NORMAL TISSUE-INJURY
  • GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA
  • CANCER-PATIENTS
  • RISK-FACTORS
  • THORACIC RADIATION
  • DOSIMETRIC FACTORS

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