Pet Dogs with Subclinical Acute Radiodermatitis Experience Widespread Somatosensory Sensitization.

Pet Dogs with Subclinical Acute Radiodermatitis Experience Widespread Somatosensory Sensitization. Radiat Res. 2019 Dec 26;: Authors: Nolan MW, Kelsey KL, Enomoto M, Ru H, Gieger TL, Lascelles BDX Abstract Radiation-induced dermatitis (RID) is a common and painful complication of radiotherapy. When severe, radiation-associated pain (RAP) can reduce the efficacy of radiotherapy by limiting the radiation dose given, and/or necessitating breaks in treatment. Current RAP mitigation strategies are of limited efficacy. Our long-term goal is to develop a comparative oncology model, in which novel analgesic interventions for RAP can be evaluated. The aim of this study was to validate quantitative end points indicative of RAP in pet dogs with subclinical and low-grade RID. Extremity soft tissue sarcomas were treated with post-operative treatment (54 Gy in 18 fractions). Visual toxicity scores, questionnaire-based pain instruments and objective algometry [mechanical quantitative sensory testing (mQST)], were evaluated regularly. Breed-matched control populations were also evaluated to address the effect of potential confounders. Skin biopsies from within the irradiated field were collected at baseline and after 24 Gy irradiation, for analysis of pain-related genes using the nanoString nCounter platform. Relative to control populations, mechanical thresholds decreased in irradiated test subjects as the total radiation dose increased, with the m...
Source: Radiation Research - Category: Physics Authors: Tags: Radiat Res Source Type: research