• The lancet oncology · Mar 2016

    Review

    Radiotherapy in patients with connective tissue diseases.

    • Niccolò Giaj-Levra, Savino Sciascia, Alba Fiorentino, Sergio Fersino, Rosario Mazzola, Francesco Ricchetti, Dario Roccatello, and Filippo Alongi.
    • Radiation Oncology Department, Sacro Cuore Hospital, Negrar-Verona, Italy. Electronic address: niccolo.giajlevra@sacrocuore.it.
    • Lancet Oncol. 2016 Mar 1; 17 (3): e109-e117.

    AbstractThe decision to offer radiotherapy in patients with connective tissue diseases continues to be challenging. Radiotherapy might trigger the onset of connective tissue diseases by increasing the expression of self-antigens, diminishing regulatory T-cell activity, and activating effectors of innate immunity (dendritic cells) through Toll-like receptor-dependent mechanisms, all of which could potentially lead to breaks of immune tolerance. This potential risk has raised some debate among radiation oncologists about whether patients with connective tissue diseases can tolerate radiation as well as people without connective tissue diseases. Because the number of patients with cancer and connective tissue diseases needing radiotherapy will probably increase due to improvements in medical treatment and longer life expectancy, the issue of interactions between radiotherapy and connective tissue diseases needs to be clearer. In this Review, we discuss available data and evidence for patients with connective tissue diseases treated with radiotherapy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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