Radiotherapy, widely regarded as a cornerstone of cancer treatment due to its established effectiveness in destroying localized tumors, may also have unintended consequences that facilitate the spread of cancer, according to new research. The phenomenon, known as the abscopal effect, occurs when localized radiation treatment not only eradicates cancer cells within the targeted area but also triggers systemic anti-tumor responses affecting distant lesions. This immunological response has fueled interest in combining radiotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
However, the new findings suggest a less favorable consequence of this treatment: the potential for radiotherapy to inadvertently increase the likelihood of metastasis—the spread of cancer to distant parts of the body. Specifically, the study highlights that radiotherapy induces the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligands. EGFR is a cellular signaling molecule known for its role in promoting cell division and survival in many cancers.
The induction of EGFR ligands in response to radiation exposure may create a microenvironment conducive to cancer cell migration and invasion. This paradoxical effect underscores the need to understand both the therapeutic and potentially harmful biological consequences of radiotherapy.
Experts suggest that these findings could have significant implications for the clinical use of radiotherapy, advocating for further investigation into how treatment protocols might be optimized to mitigate adverse effects. Moreover, combining radiotherapy with EGFR inhibitors or other targeted therapeutics could be explored to prevent undesired tumor progression linked to radiation-induced molecular changes.
As the oncology community continues to refine cancer treatments, insights like these emphasize the importance of personalized medicine and the need to consider unintended biological responses to standard therapies.
Source: https:// – Courtesy of the original publisher.
