Qin Jianing, Zhang Fengjuan, Zhang Wenjing, Yang Song, Yang Bin, Xie Tao, Zhang Hui, Wan Min, Li Huachi
Department of Oncology, Liuzhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Front Immunol. 2025 Sep 5;16:1634522. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1634522. eCollection 2025.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) represent a common category of malignant tumors. Radiotherapy, as the primary treatment modality for these tumors, while effectively controlling tumor progression, is often accompanied by a series of treatment-related side effects. As a major salivary gland in the head-and-neck region, the parotid gland (PG) is particularly susceptible to radiation damage during radiotherapy, given its anatomical proximity to the target irradiation area. The radiation dose and irradiated volume of the PG not only disrupt its physiological secretory function, leading to debilitating side effects like xerostomia and dysphagia, but also potentially compromise tumor control and patient outcomes by modulating the local and systemic immune homeostasis. This article systematically reviews the relevant research on the impact of PG irradiation on the immune microenvironment during HNC radiotherapy in recent years, and it delves into multiple levels, including cytokine changes and immune cell function alterations, aiming to offer a comprehensive theoretical basis and novel research perspectives for optimizing radiotherapy plans, reducing radiotherapy-related adverse reactions, and improving patient prognosis.
头颈癌（HNC）是一类常见的恶性肿瘤。放射治疗作为这些肿瘤的主要治疗方式，在有效控制肿瘤进展的同时，常常伴随着一系列与治疗相关的副作用。作为头颈区域的主要唾液腺，腮腺（PG）由于其在解剖位置上靠近靶照射区域，在放射治疗期间特别容易受到辐射损伤。腮腺的辐射剂量和照射体积不仅会破坏其生理分泌功能，导致诸如口干症和吞咽困难等使人衰弱的副作用，还可能通过调节局部和全身免疫稳态而潜在地影响肿瘤控制和患者预后。本文系统综述了近年来关于头颈癌放疗期间腮腺照射对免疫微环境影响的相关研究，并深入探讨了包括细胞因子变化和免疫细胞功能改变在内的多个层面，旨在为优化放疗计划、减少放疗相关不良反应以及改善患者预后提供全面的理论依据和新的研究视角。
