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Do no harm--normal tissue effectsRadiation therapy confers enormous benefits that must be balanced against the possibilities for harm including late toxicity in normal tissues and radiation-induced second malignancies. A small percentage of patients experience severe late complications. The question is, do these late sequelae occur randomly, or are they confined to individuals who are genetically predisposed to radiosensitivity. Experiments with knockout mice and with patients demonstrate that individuals heterozygous for a number of genes appear to be radiosensitive. If radiosensitive patients were identified prospectively by genetic analysis, they could be spared the trauma of late sequelae. Several large studies have shown a statistically significant excess of radiation-induced malignancies in radiotherapy patients. Most second cancers are carcinomas, developing in the lining cells of the body often remote from the treatment site. Radiation-induced sarcomas appear only in the heavily irradiated areas. These are small in number but appear with a very high relative risk.
Document ID
20040088465
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hall, E. J.
(Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons New York 10032, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)
Volume: 40
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0284-186X
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: CA 49062
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Radiation Health
Review, Tutorial
Review
Non-NASA Center

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