Center for Molecular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China.
Curr Drug Targets. 2013 Oct;14(11):1347-56. doi: 10.2174/13894501113149990198.
Radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RILF) is a severe side effect of radiotherapy in lung cancer patients that presents as a progressive pulmonary injury combined with chronic inflammation and exaggerated organ repair. RILF is a major barrier to improving the cure rate and well-being of lung cancer patients because it limits the radiation dose that is required to effectively kill tumor cells and diminishes normal lung function. Although the exact mechanism is unclear, accumulating evidence suggests that various cells, cytokines and regulatory molecules are involved in the tissue reorganization and immune response modulation that occur in RILF. In this review, we will summarize the general symptoms, diagnostics, and current understanding of the cells and molecular factors that are linked to the signaling networks implicated in RILF. Potential approaches for the treatment of RILF will also be discussed. Elucidating the key molecular mediators that initiate and control the extent of RILF in response to therapeutic radiation may reveal additional targets for RILF treatment to significantly improve the efficacy of radiotherapy for lung cancer patients.
放射性肺纤维化（RILF）是肺癌患者放疗的一种严重副作用，表现为进行性肺损伤合并慢性炎症和过度的器官修复。RILF 是提高肺癌患者治愈率和生活质量的主要障碍，因为它限制了有效杀死肿瘤细胞所需的辐射剂量，并降低了正常的肺功能。尽管确切的机制尚不清楚，但越来越多的证据表明，各种细胞、细胞因子和调节分子参与了 RILF 中发生的组织重排和免疫反应调节。在这篇综述中，我们将总结 RILF 的一般症状、诊断以及与参与 RILF 的信号网络相关的细胞和分子因素的现有认识。还将讨论治疗 RILF 的潜在方法。阐明启动和控制治疗性放射治疗后 RILF 程度的关键分子介质，可能会发现 RILF 治疗的其他靶点，从而显著提高放疗治疗肺癌患者的疗效。
