Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

E. A. Domina

R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology, National Academy
of Sciences of Ukraine, 45 Vasylkivska Str., Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine

PATHOGENESIS OF RADIATION COMPLICATIONS IN NORMAL
TISSUES SURROUNDING AN IRRADIATED TUMOUR (review)

Dedicated to the memory
of the outstanding Ukrainian radiobiologist
Mykola Oleksandrovych Druzhyna

The introduction of new radiation technologies in modern radiotherapy of cancer patients is still in some cases associated with the risk of developing early and distant complications in healthy tissues surrounding the tumour. The causes of their occurrence, pathogenesis and radiobiological characteristics are reviewed and briefly described. The rate of the manifestation of complications depends on the radiosensitivity of tissues and is determined by the amount of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation. In contrast to early complications, the development of distant radiation effects is irreversible and progressive. The features of early radiation complications are considered on the example of patients with gynaecological oncology, the incidence of which has been rapidly increasing in recent years. The interest of researchers in this pathology is due to the danger of developing complications from critical pelvic organs. Attention is focused on determining the individual radiosensitivity of the patients' body using the chromosomal G2 test to predict the development of post-radiation complications. The paper advocates for the necessity of developing nontoxic radioprotectors that would show affinity only to healthy tissues, would not require additional concomitant therapy and would definitely improve the quality of life of patients.
Key words: radiation therapy; ionizing radiation; cancer patients; post-radiation complications; pathogenesis; radiobiological characteristics; healthy tissues; radioprotection.

Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology.
2024;29:34-43. doi: 10.33145/2304-8336-2024-29-34-43

full text

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