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Chaurasia RK, Sapra BK, Aswal DK. Interplay of immune modulation, adaptive response and hormesis: Suggestive of threshold for clinical manifestation of effects of ionizing radiation at low doses? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170178. [PMID: 38280586 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
The health impacts of low-dose ionizing radiation exposures have been a subject of debate over the last three to four decades. While there has been enough evidence of "no adverse observable" health effects at low doses and low dose rates, the hypothesis of "Linear No Threshold" continues to rule and govern the principles of radiation protection and the formulation of regulations and public policies. In adopting this conservative approach, the role of the biological processes underway in the human body is kept at abeyance. This review consolidates the available studies that discuss all related biological pathways and repair mechanisms that inhibit the progression of deleterious effects at low doses and low dose rates of ionizing radiation. It is pertinent that, taking cognizance of these processes, there is a need to have a relook at policies of radiation protection, which as of now are too stringent, leading to undue economic losses and negative public perception about radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Chaurasia
- Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, India; Health, Safety and Environment Group,Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India.
| | - B K Sapra
- Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, India; Health, Safety and Environment Group,Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India.
| | - D K Aswal
- Health, Safety and Environment Group,Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India.
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Piras A, Venuti V, D’Aviero A, Cusumano D, Pergolizzi S, Daidone A, Boldrini L. Covid-19 and radiotherapy: a systematic review after 2 years of pandemic. Clin Transl Imaging 2022; 10:611-630. [PMID: 35910079 PMCID: PMC9308500 DOI: 10.1007/s40336-022-00513-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Following the Covid-19 pandemic spread, changes in clinical practice were necessary to limit the pandemic diffusion. Also, oncological practice has undergone changes with radiotherapy (RT) treatments playing a key role.Although several experiences have been published, the aim of this review is to summarize the current evidence after 2 years of pandemic to provide useful conclusions for clinicians. Methods A Pubmed/MEDLINE and Embase systematic review was conducted. The search strategy was "Covid AND Radiotherapy" and only original articles in the English language were considered. Results A total of 2.733 papers were obtained using the mentioned search strategy. After the complete selection process, a total of 281 papers were considered eligible for the analysis of the results. Discussion RT has played a key role in Covid-19 pandemic as it has proved more resilient than surgery and chemotherapy. The impact of the accelerated use of hypofractionated RT and telemedicine will make these strategies central also in the post-pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Piras
- Radioterapia Oncologica, Villa Santa Teresa, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria Venuti
- Radioterapia Oncologica, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Andrea D’Aviero
- Radiation Oncology, Mater Olbia Hospital, Olbia, Sassari Italy
| | | | - Stefano Pergolizzi
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Dental Science and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Luca Boldrini
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, UOC Radioterapia Oncologica - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
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Dunlap NE, van Berkel V, Cai L. COVID-19 and low-dose radiation therapy. RADIATION MEDICINE AND PROTECTION 2021; 2:139-145. [PMID: 34522905 PMCID: PMC8429076 DOI: 10.1016/j.radmp.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused more than 179 million infections and 3.8 million deaths worldwide. Global health authorities working on the COVID-19 outbreak continue to explore methods to reduce the rate of its transmission to healthy individuals. Treatment protocols thus far have focused on social distancing and masking, treatment with antivirals early in infection, and steroids to reduce the inflammatory response. An alternative approach is therapy with low dose radiation (LDR), which has several advantages compared to the current drugs and medicines. To date more than 10 case reports and pilot clinical trial preliminary outcome are available from different countries. These reports cover a wide range of patient conditions and LDR treatment strategies. Although one report showed the failure to observe the improvement of COVID-19 patients after LDR therapy, the majority showed some clinical improvement, and demonstrated the safety of LDR for COVID-19 patients, particularly with 0.5 Gy. This review aims to summarize the potential rationales and mechanisms of LDR therapy for COVID-19 patients, and its current clinical status and potential use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neal E Dunlap
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Victor van Berkel
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40204, USA
| | - Lu Cai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.,Pediatric Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
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Yu J, Azzam EI, Jadhav AB, Wang Y. COVID-19: The Disease, the Immunological Challenges, the Treatment with Pharmaceuticals and Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation. Cells 2021; 10:2212. [PMID: 34571861 PMCID: PMC8470324 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The year 2020 will be carved in the history books-with the proliferation of COVID-19 over the globe and with frontline health workers and basic scientists worldwide diligently fighting to alleviate life-threatening symptoms and curb the spread of the disease. Behind the shocking prevalence of death are countless families who lost loved ones. To these families and to humanity as a whole, the tallies are not irrelevant digits, but a motivation to develop effective strategies to save lives. However, at the onset of the pandemic, not many therapeutic choices were available besides supportive oxygen, anti-inflammatory dexamethasone, and antiviral remdesivir. Low-dose radiation (LDR), at a much lower dosage than applied in cancer treatment, re-emerged after a 75-year silence in its use in unresolved pneumonia, as a scientific interest with surprising effects in soothing the cytokine storm and other symptoms in severe COVID-19 patients. Here, we review the epidemiology, symptoms, immunological alterations, mutations, pharmaceuticals, and vaccine development of COVID-19, summarizing the history of X-ray irradiation in non-COVID diseases (especially pneumonia) and the currently registered clinical trials that apply LDR in treating COVID-19 patients. We discuss concerns, advantages, and disadvantages of LDR treatment and potential avenues that may provide empirical evidence supporting its potential use in defending against the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihang Yu
- Radiobiology and Health, Isotopes, Radiobiology & Environment Directorate (IRED), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, Canada; (J.Y.); (E.I.A.); (A.B.J.)
| | - Edouard I. Azzam
- Radiobiology and Health, Isotopes, Radiobiology & Environment Directorate (IRED), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, Canada; (J.Y.); (E.I.A.); (A.B.J.)
| | - Ashok B. Jadhav
- Radiobiology and Health, Isotopes, Radiobiology & Environment Directorate (IRED), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, Canada; (J.Y.); (E.I.A.); (A.B.J.)
| | - Yi Wang
- Radiobiology and Health, Isotopes, Radiobiology & Environment Directorate (IRED), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, Canada; (J.Y.); (E.I.A.); (A.B.J.)
- Department of Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
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Mancilla-Galindo J, Galindo-Sevilla N. Exploring the rationale for thermotherapy in COVID-19. Int J Hyperthermia 2021; 38:202-212. [PMID: 33682604 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2021.1883127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased transmissibility of the pandemic severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been noted to occur at lower ambient temperatures. This is seemingly related to a better replication of most respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, at lower-than-core body temperatures (i.e., 33 °C vs 37 °C). Also, intrinsic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 make it a heat-susceptible pathogen. Thermotherapy has successfully been used to combat viral infections in plants which could otherwise result in great economic losses; 90% of viruses causing infections in plants are positive-sense single-stranded ribonucleic acid (+ssRNA) viruses, a characteristic shared by SARS-CoV-2. Thus, it is possible to envision the use of heat-based interventions (thermotherapy or mild-temperature hyperthermia) in patients with COVID-19 for which moderate cycles (every 8-12 h) of mild-temperature hyperthermia (1-2 h) have been proposed. However, there are potential safety and mechanistic concerns which could limit the use of thermotherapy only to patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to prevent disease progression rather than to treat patients who have already progressed to severe-to-critical COVID-19. Here, we review the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 which make it a heat-susceptible virus, potential host mechanisms which could be enhanced at higher temperatures to aid viral clearance, and how thermotherapy could be investigated as a modality of treatment in patients with COVID-19 while taking into consideration potential risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Mancilla-Galindo
- Facultad de Medicina, División de Investigación, Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Norma Galindo-Sevilla
- Departamento de Infectología e Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
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Liu H, Yang D, Chen X, Sun Z, Zou Y, Chen C, Sun S. The effect of anticancer treatment on cancer patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Med 2021; 10:1043-1056. [PMID: 33381923 PMCID: PMC7897967 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between cancer and COVID-19 has been revealed during the pandemic. Some anticancer treatments have been reported to have negative influences on COVID-19-infected patients while other studies did not support this hypothesis. METHODS A literature search was conducted in WOS, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI and VIP between Dec 1, 2019 and Sept 23, 2020 for studies on anticancer treatments in patients with COVID-19. Cohort studies involving over 20 patients with cancer were included. The characteristics of the patients and studies, treatment types, mortality, and other additional outcomes were extracted and pooled for synthesis. RRs and forest plots were adopted to present the results. The literature quality and publication bias were assessed using NOS and Egger's test, respectively. RESULTS We analyzed the data from 29 studies, with 5121 cancer patients with COVID-19 meeting the inclusion criteria. There were no significant differences in mortality between patients receiving anticancer treatment and those not (RR 1.17, 95%CI: 0.96-1.43, I2 =66%, p = 0.12). Importantly, in patients with hematological malignancies, chemotherapy could markedly increase the mortality (RR 2.68, 95% CI: 1.90-3.78, I2 =0%, p < 0.00001). In patients with solid tumors, no significant differences in mortality were observed (RR 1.16, 95% CI: 0.57-2.36, I2 =72%, p = 0.67). In addition, our analysis revealed that anticancer therapies had no effects on the ICU admission rate (RR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.70-1.09, I2 =25%, p = 0.23), the severe rate (RR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.95-1.13, I2 =31%, p = 0.42), or respiratory support rate (RR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.70-1.21, I2 =32%, p = 0.55) in COVID-19-infected patients with cancer. Notably, patients receiving surgery had a higher rate of respiratory support than those without any antitumor treatment (RR 1.87, 95%CI: 1.02-3.46, I2 =0%, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS No significant difference was seen in any anticancer treatments in the solid tumor subgroup. Chemotherapy, however, will lead to higher mortality in patients with hematological malignancies. Multicenter, prospective studies are needed to re-evaluate the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqing Liu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubeiPR China
| | - Dan Yang
- Department of CardiologyRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubeiPR China
| | - Xinyue Chen
- Department of Thyroid and Breast SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubeiPR China
| | - Zhihong Sun
- Department of Thyroid and Breast SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubeiPR China
| | - Yutong Zou
- Department of Laboratory MedicinePeking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical SciencesDongcheng DistrictBeijingPR China
| | - Chuang Chen
- Department of Thyroid and Breast SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubeiPR China
| | - Shengrong Sun
- Department of Thyroid and Breast SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubeiPR China
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Verma A, Adhikary A, Woloschak G, Dwarakanath BS, Papineni RVL. A combinatorial approach of a polypharmacological adjuvant 2-deoxy-D-glucose with low dose radiation therapy to quell the cytokine storm in COVID-19 management. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 96:1323-1328. [PMID: 32910699 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1818865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a pandemic disease and is the major cause of deaths worldwide. The clinical complexities (inflammation, cytokine storm, and multi-organ dysfunction) associated with COVID-19 poses constraints to effective management of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Low dose radiation therapy (LDRT) has been evaluated as a potential therapeutic modality for COVID-19 pneumonia. However, due to heterogeneity in disease manifestation and inter-individual variations, effective planning for LDRT is limited for this large-scale event. 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has emerged as a polypharmacological agent for COVID-19 treatment due to its effects on the glycolytic pathway, anti-inflammatory action, and interaction with viral proteins. We suggest that 2-DG will be a potential adjuvant to enhance the efficacy of LDRT in the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia. Withal, azido analog of 2-DG, 2-azido-2-DG can produce rapid catastrophic oxidative stress and quell the cytokine storm in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gayle Woloschak
- Department of Radiobiology, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bilikere S Dwarakanath
- Department of Research and Development, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Rao V L Papineni
- Department of Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center (Adjunct), and PACT & Health LLC, Branford, CT, USA
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Pandey BN. Low-dose radiation therapy for coronavirus disease-2019 pneumonia: Is it time to look beyond apprehensions? Ann Thorac Med 2020; 15:199-207. [PMID: 33381234 PMCID: PMC7720738 DOI: 10.4103/atm.atm_433_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has become a global health crisis. Mortality associated with COVID-19 is characterized mainly by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. The pathogenesis of the disease is known to be associated with pro-inflammatory processes after virus infection. Hence, various therapeutic strategies are being developed to control the inflammation and cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. Recently, low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) has been suggested for the treatment of pneumonia/ADRS in COVID-19 patients through irradiation of lungs by gamma/X-ray. In this direction, a few clinical trials have also been initiated. However, a few recent publications have raised some concerns regarding LDRT, especially about possibilities of activation/aggressiveness of virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in case of COVID-19), lung injury and risk of second cancer after low-dose therapy. The present manuscript is an attempt to analyze these apprehensions based on cited references and other available literature, including some from our laboratory. At this point, LDRT may be not the first line of therapy. However, based on existing anti-inflammatory evidence of LDRT, it needs encouragement as an adjuvant therapy and for more multi-centric clinical trials. In addition, it would be worth combining LDRT with other anti-inflammatory therapies, which would open avenues for multi-modal therapy of pneumonia/ARDS in COVID-19 patients. The mode of irradiation (local lung irradiation or whole-body irradiation) and the window period after infection of the virus, need to be optimized using suitable animal studies for effective clinical outcomes of LDRT. However, considering ample evidence, it is time to look beyond the apprehensions if a low dose of radiation could be exploited for better management of COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badri Narain Pandey
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Skinner HD. Mining the past to treat the present, ever mindful of the future: Low-dose radiotherapy and COVID-19 pneumonia. Cancer 2020; 126:5017-5021. [PMID: 32985700 PMCID: PMC7536983 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This editorial discusses an interim analysis of the clinical trial by Hess et al. The trial examines the use of low‐dose radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heath D Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Hertzog RG, Bicheru SN. Radiotherapy in the fight against pneumonia associated with SARS-CoV-2. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 96:1319-1322. [PMID: 32931359 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1822560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Li CY. Can Glycine Mitigate COVID-19 Associated Tissue Damage and Cytokine Storm? Radiat Res 2020; 194:199-201. [PMID: 32942307 PMCID: PMC7574884 DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00146.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Yuan Li
- Departments of Dermatology, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
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