STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Trends in Drug Delivery

Oxidative stress analysis of cancer patient treated with Radiotherapy

  1. Vidhi Sharma
  2. Shivam Chourasiya
  3. Rashmi Mishra
  4. Vidhi Gupta
  5. Gautam Sharan
  6. Alibha Rawat
  7. N. Ganesh

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a term given to overload of free radicals in the body caused by an imbalance between levels of free radicals and antioxidants in the body. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are free radicals also known as oxygen radicals that are produced by various physiological reactions inside the body leading to increasing oxidative stress that can lead to cell death.  In case of cancer management, radiation therapy works by utilizing the property of ionizing radiation to produce free radicals that ultimately kills cancer cells.  Various studies have been done over the years to understand the tumor microenvironment which plays a huge role in determining the therapy outcome.  It has been demonstrated that vascular, stromal and immunological changes induced in the tumour microenvironment by irradiation may promote radioresistance and tumour recurrence.  Moreover, the increased built-up of oxidative stress caused by radiation therapy to kill cancer cells can linger and have long term and delayed damage to bystander cells as well.  Therefore, antioxidants as adjuvant therapies to combat these side effects have also gained popularity.  The current review summarizes the various studies done to understand the radiotherapy- induced oxidative stress and methods to analyze oxidative stress in patients treated with radiotherapy.

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