Bove Geoffrey M, McMillan Holly, Barbe Mary F
Owner and Principal Investigator, Bove Consulting, Kennebunkport, ME, USA.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Senior Speech Pathologist and Clinical Research Fellow, Texas School of Public Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Cancer Biol Ther. 2024 Dec 31;25(1):2436694. doi: 10.1080/15384047.2024.2436694. Epub 2024 Dec 2.
Radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) is a common side effect of cancer treatment, but can manifest into a devastating syndrome for which there is no preventive measure or cure. In rats who perform a repetitive work task, who left untreated develop signs and symptoms that resemble repetitive motion disorders in humans, we have shown that manual therapy prevents the development of fibrosis and other key biomarkers. The fibrosis of RIF and repetitive motion disorders has similar biomarkers. In rats, we sought to determine if manual therapy would alter key biomarkers of post-irradiation fibrosis following X-ray irradiation given to the rat forelimb. One limb of rats was given a damaging dose of X-ray irradiation. Some limbs were massaged using a protocol previously described and characterized. Serum inflammatory markers, histological assays of tissue fibrosis and nerve pathology, and electrophysiology for neuropathic discharge were assayed after 8 weeks. We also tested if an experienced therapist could identify the irradiated limb using blinded palpation at the 8 week end-point. While preliminary assays showed robust changes compared to control limbs, the other assays did not show similar pathology. Our therapist could detect each irradiated limb. Serum inflammatory markers were reduced by massage to the irradiated limb. We conclude that blinded palpation is sensitive to detect subtle changes in tissue following irradiation. In contrast to the preliminary studies, the dose of irradiation used was insufficient to induce long-lasting deep fibrosis or nerve degeneration. We suspect that a difference in housing, and thus physical activity, was the plausible reason for this difference.
放射性纤维化（RIF）是癌症治疗的常见副作用，但可能演变成一种毁灭性的综合征，对此尚无预防措施或治愈方法。在执行重复性工作任务的大鼠中，如果不进行治疗，它们会出现类似于人类重复性运动障碍的体征和症状。我们已经证明，手法治疗可预防纤维化和其他关键生物标志物的发展。RIF的纤维化和重复性运动障碍具有相似的生物标志物。在大鼠中，我们试图确定手法治疗是否会改变对大鼠前肢进行X射线照射后辐射后纤维化的关键生物标志物。给大鼠的一个肢体给予破坏性剂量的X射线照射。一些肢体使用先前描述和表征的方案进行按摩。8周后检测血清炎症标志物、组织纤维化和神经病理学的组织学分析以及神经性放电的电生理学。我们还测试了一位经验丰富的治疗师是否可以在8周的终点使用盲法触诊来识别受照射的肢体。虽然初步分析显示与对照肢体相比有明显变化，但其他分析并未显示出类似的病理情况。我们的治疗师可以检测到每个受照射的肢体。对受照射肢体进行按摩可降低血清炎症标志物。我们得出结论，盲法触诊对于检测照射后组织的细微变化很敏感。与初步研究相反，所用的照射剂量不足以诱导持久的深部纤维化或神经变性。我们怀疑饲养环境的差异以及由此导致的身体活动差异是造成这种差异的合理原因。
