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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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Shuryak I, Kachnic LA, Brenner DJ. Lung Cancer and Heart Disease Risks Associated With Low-Dose Pulmonary Radiotherapy to COVID-19 Patients With Different Background Risks. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 111:233-239. [PMID: 33930480 PMCID: PMC8078051 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The respiratory disease COVID-19 reached global pandemic status in 2020. Excessive inflammation is believed to result in the most severe symptoms and death from this disease. Because treatment options for patients with severe COVID-19 related pulmonary symptoms remain limited, whole-lung low-dose radiation therapy is being evaluated as an anti-inflammatory modality. However, there is concern about the long-term risks associated with low-dose pulmonary irradiation. To help quantify the benefit-risk balance of low-dose radiation therapy for COVID-19, we estimated radiation-induced lifetime risks of both lung cancer and heart disease (major coronary events) for patients of different sexes, treated at ages 50 to 85, with and without other relevant risk factors (cigarette smoking and baseline heart disease risk). METHODS AND MATERIALS These estimates were generated by combining state-of-the-art radiation risk models for lung cancer and for heart disease together with background lung cancer and heart disease risks and age/sex-dependent survival probabilities for the U.S. POPULATION RESULTS Estimated absolute radiation-induced risks were generally higher for lung cancer compared with major coronary events. The highest estimated lifetime radiation-induced lung cancer risks were approximately 6% for female smokers treated between ages 50 and 60. The highest estimated radiation-induced heart disease risks were approximately 3% for males or females with high heart disease risk factors and treated between ages 50 and 60. CONCLUSIONS The estimated summed lifetime risk of lung cancer and major coronary events reached up to 9% in patients with high baseline risk factors. Predicted lung cancer and heart disease risks were lowest in older nonsmoking patients and patients with few cardiac risk factors. These long-term risk estimates, along with consideration of possible acute reactions, should be useful in assessing the benefit-risk balance for low-dose radiation therapy to treat severe COVID-19 pulmonary symptoms, and suggest that background risk factors, particularly smoking, should be taken into account in such assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Shuryak
- Center for Radiological Research, Department of Radiation Oncology; Department of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York.
| | - Lisa A Kachnic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York
| | - David J Brenner
- Center for Radiological Research, Department of Radiation Oncology; Department of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York
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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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Kumar R, Haresh KP, Sharma DN, Gupta A, Gupta S, Vellaiyan S, Rath GK. Low-dose radiotherapy for COVID 19: A radioimmunological perspective. J Cancer Res Ther 2021; 17:295-302. [PMID: 34121671 DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_1045_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The world is fighting the onslaught of COVID 19 for the last 10 months, ever since the first case was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Now, it has spread to over 200 countries. COVID 19-associated respiratory syndrome is causing a lot of mortality and morbidity. There are reports suggesting that the complications and ARDS associated with COVID 19 is an immune response reaction. The cytokine storm associated with severe cases of COVID 19 acts as a cause of death in many sick patients. It has been shown that COVID 19 is associated with a peculiar immune profile: Decrease in CD3, CD4, CD8, natural killer cell and B-cells; Rise in interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha; Decrease in IL-10; Decrease in interferon-gamma. Low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) immunosuppressive features resulting from M2 macrophage phenotype activation, increase in IL-10, transforming growth factor beta, a decrease in IL-6, TNF alpha and an increase in CD3, CD4, and CD8 T cell counts may negate the harmful effects of cytokine release syndrome. Literature review shows that radiation was previously used to treat viral pneumonia with a good success rate. This practice was discontinued in view of the availability of effective antibiotics and antivirals. As there are no scientifically proven treatment for severe COVID 19-associated respiratory distress today, it is prudent that we understand the benefits of LDRT at this critical juncture and take rational decisions to treat the same. This article provides an radioimmunological rationale for the treatment of immune crisis mediated complications in severe cases of COVID 19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishabh Kumar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Kunhi Parambath Haresh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Daya Nand Sharma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Institute, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jhajjar, Haryana, India
| | - Anil Gupta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Subhash Gupta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Subramani Vellaiyan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Goura Kishor Rath
- Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Institute, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jhajjar, Haryana, India
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Rios CI, Cassatt DR, Hollingsworth BA, Satyamitra MM, Tadesse YS, Taliaferro LP, Winters TA, DiCarlo AL. Commonalities Between COVID-19 and Radiation Injury. Radiat Res 2021; 195:1-24. [PMID: 33064832 PMCID: PMC7861125 DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00188.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
As the multi-systemic components of COVID-19 emerge, parallel etiologies can be drawn between SARS-CoV-2 infection and radiation injuries. While some SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals present as asymptomatic, others exhibit mild symptoms that may include fever, cough, chills, and unusual symptoms like loss of taste and smell and reddening in the extremities (e.g., "COVID toes," suggestive of microvessel damage). Still others alarm healthcare providers with extreme and rapid onset of high-risk indicators of mortality that include acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ hypercoagulation, hypoxia and cardiovascular damage. Researchers are quickly refocusing their science to address this enigmatic virus that seems to unveil itself in new ways without discrimination. As investigators begin to identify early markers of disease, identification of common threads with other pathologies may provide some clues. Interestingly, years of research in the field of radiation biology documents the complex multiorgan nature of another disease state that occurs after exposure to high doses of radiation: the acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Inflammation is a key common player in COVID-19 and ARS, and drives the multi-system damage that dramatically alters biological homeostasis. Both conditions initiate a cytokine storm, with similar pro-inflammatory molecules increased and other anti-inflammatory molecules decreased. These changes manifest in a variety of ways, with a demonstrably higher health impact in patients having underlying medical conditions. The potentially dramatic human impact of ARS has guided the science that has identified many biomarkers of radiation exposure, established medical management strategies for ARS, and led to the development of medical countermeasures for use in the event of a radiation public health emergency. These efforts can now be leveraged to help elucidate mechanisms of action of COVID-19 injuries. Furthermore, this intersection between COVID-19 and ARS may point to approaches that could accelerate the discovery of treatments for both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen I. Rios
- Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
| | - David R. Cassatt
- Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
| | - Brynn A. Hollingsworth
- Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
| | - Merriline M. Satyamitra
- Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
| | - Yeabsera S. Tadesse
- Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
| | - Lanyn P. Taliaferro
- Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
| | - Thomas A. Winters
- Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
| | - Andrea L. DiCarlo
- Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
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Das IJ, Kalapurakal JA, Mittal BB. Caution warranted for low-dose radiation therapy for Covid-19. Br J Radiol 2020; 94:20200466. [PMID: 33112664 PMCID: PMC7774700 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20200466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Covid-19 is a morbid respiratory disease that has caused desperate times on a global scale due to the lack of any effective medical treatment. Some in the radiation community are actively proposing low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) for managing the viral pneumonia associated with Covid-19. This commentary provides a rationale for exercising caution against such a decision as the efficacy of LDRT for viral diseases is unknown, while its long-term adverse risks are well known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indra J Das
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
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Little MP, Zhang W, van Dusen R, Hamada N. Pneumonia After Bacterial or Viral Infection Preceded or Followed by Radiation Exposure: A Reanalysis of Older Radiobiologic Data and Implications for Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020; 109:849-858. [PMID: 33011212 PMCID: PMC7527825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.09.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Currently, there are about 15 ongoing clinical studies on low dose radiation therapy for Coronavirus Disease 2019 pneumonia. One of the underlying assumptions is that irradiation of 0.5 to 1.5 Gy is effective at ameliorating viral pneumonia. We aimed to reanalyze all available experimental radiobiologic data to assess evidence for such amelioration. Methods and Materials With standard statistical survival models, and based on a systematic literature review, we reanalyzed 13 radiobiologic animal data sets published in 1937 to 1973 in which animals (guinea pigs/dogs/cats/rats/mice) received radiation before or after bacterial or viral inoculation, and assessing various health endpoints (mortality/pneumonia morbidity). In most data sets absorbed doses did not exceed 7 Gy. Results For 6 studies evaluating postinoculation radiation exposure (more relevant to low dose radiation therapy for Coronavirus Disease 2019 pneumonia) the results are heterogeneous, with one study showing a significant increase (P < .001) and another showing a significant decrease (P < .001) in mortality associated with radiation exposure. Among the remaining 4 studies, mortality risk was nonsignificantly increased in 2 studies and nonsignificantly decreased in 2 others (P > .05). For preinoculation exposure the results are also heterogeneous, with 6 (of 8) data sets showing a significant increase (P < .01) in mortality risk associated with radiation exposure and the other 2 showing a significant decrease (P < .05) in mortality or pneumonitis morbidity risk. Conclusions These data do not provide support for reductions in morbidity or mortality associated with postinfection radiation exposure. For preinfection radiation exposure the inconsistency of direction of effect is difficult to interpret. One must be cautious about adducing evidence from such published reports of old animal data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Roy van Dusen
- Information Management Services, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Tokyo, Japan
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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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Salomaa S, Bouffler SD, Atkinson MJ, Cardis E, Hamada N. Is there any supportive evidence for low dose radiotherapy for COVID-19 pneumonia? Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 96:1228-1235. [DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1786609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sisko Salomaa
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- STUK-Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Simon D. Bouffler
- Public Health England Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Didcot, UK
| | - Michael J. Atkinson
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz-Center Munich, National Research Centre for Health and Environment, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- Campus Mar, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Komae, Japan
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