Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges
ABSTRACT Cancer is a major public health, societal, and economic challenge worldwide. According to Global Cancer Statistics 2022, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be 35 million new cancer cases globally. Although patient survival rates have improved through various therapeutic approaches, in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | MedComm |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70202 |
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| _version_ | 1849240084029636608 |
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| author | Yuanyuan Zhao Fangqin Tan Jiajia Zhao Shuchang Zhou Yao Luo Chen Gong |
| author_facet | Yuanyuan Zhao Fangqin Tan Jiajia Zhao Shuchang Zhou Yao Luo Chen Gong |
| author_sort | Yuanyuan Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Cancer is a major public health, societal, and economic challenge worldwide. According to Global Cancer Statistics 2022, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be 35 million new cancer cases globally. Although patient survival rates have improved through various therapeutic approaches, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, treatment efficacy remains limited once tumor metastasis occurs. Among various cancer treatment strategies, radiotherapy plays a crucial role. Along with surgery and chemotherapy, radiotherapy is a cost‐effective single‐modality treatment, accounting for approximately 5% of total cancer care costs. The use of radiosensitizing agents such as histone deacetylase inhibitors, 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose, enterolactone, and squalene epoxidase can enhance radiotherapy effectiveness. Recent radiosensitization methods involve physical stimuli and chemical radiosensitizers. However, improving their efficacy, durability, and overcoming radioresistance remain significant challenges. This review first introduces current applications of radiotherapy in cancer treatment, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer effects, and its side effects. Second, it discusses the main types of radiosensitizers, their latest applications, and recent challenges in cancer treatment. Finally, it emphasizes on clinical trials of radiosensitizing agents and explores potential biomarkers for radiotherapy response in cancer. Multifunctional nanoparticles have shown greater clinical applicability than single‐functional nanoparticles. Future research will focus on enhancing the drug‐carrying capacity of nanomaterials to further improve radiotherapy outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7d56dba8b4594c138868209e9a188c7e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2688-2663 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MedComm |
| spelling | doaj-art-7d56dba8b4594c138868209e9a188c7e2025-08-20T04:00:44ZengWileyMedComm2688-26632025-06-0166n/an/a10.1002/mco2.70202Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and ChallengesYuanyuan Zhao0Fangqin Tan1Jiajia Zhao2Shuchang Zhou3Yao Luo4Chen Gong5Department of Oncology Department of Radiology Institute of Organ Transplantation Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan ChinaDepartment of Oncology Department of Radiology Institute of Organ Transplantation Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan ChinaDepartment of Stomatology Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan ChinaDepartment of Oncology Department of Radiology Institute of Organ Transplantation Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu ChinaDepartment of Oncology Department of Radiology Institute of Organ Transplantation Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan ChinaABSTRACT Cancer is a major public health, societal, and economic challenge worldwide. According to Global Cancer Statistics 2022, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be 35 million new cancer cases globally. Although patient survival rates have improved through various therapeutic approaches, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, treatment efficacy remains limited once tumor metastasis occurs. Among various cancer treatment strategies, radiotherapy plays a crucial role. Along with surgery and chemotherapy, radiotherapy is a cost‐effective single‐modality treatment, accounting for approximately 5% of total cancer care costs. The use of radiosensitizing agents such as histone deacetylase inhibitors, 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose, enterolactone, and squalene epoxidase can enhance radiotherapy effectiveness. Recent radiosensitization methods involve physical stimuli and chemical radiosensitizers. However, improving their efficacy, durability, and overcoming radioresistance remain significant challenges. This review first introduces current applications of radiotherapy in cancer treatment, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer effects, and its side effects. Second, it discusses the main types of radiosensitizers, their latest applications, and recent challenges in cancer treatment. Finally, it emphasizes on clinical trials of radiosensitizing agents and explores potential biomarkers for radiotherapy response in cancer. Multifunctional nanoparticles have shown greater clinical applicability than single‐functional nanoparticles. Future research will focus on enhancing the drug‐carrying capacity of nanomaterials to further improve radiotherapy outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70202combination therapyradiosensitizationradiosensitizersradiotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Yuanyuan Zhao Fangqin Tan Jiajia Zhao Shuchang Zhou Yao Luo Chen Gong Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges MedComm combination therapy radiosensitization radiosensitizers radiotherapy |
| title | Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges |
| title_full | Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges |
| title_fullStr | Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges |
| title_short | Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges |
| title_sort | targeting the enhanced sensitivity of radiotherapy in cancer mechanisms applications and challenges |
| topic | combination therapy radiosensitization radiosensitizers radiotherapy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70202 |
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