Hematological toxicity in patients with solid malignant tumors treated with radiation – temporal analysis, dose response and impact on survival

Mechanisms of hematological toxicity after radiation therapy differ between blood components. Thrombocytopenia and neutropenia are most likely secondary to the myelosuppressive effect of chemotherapy administered before or during radiotherapy,[1] whereas lymphopenia is additionally associated with the direct effect of radiation on circulating lymphocytes and the bone marrow within the irradiated volume.[2] The differential effect of radiotherapy on blood components may be explained by lymphocytes ’ high sensitivity to radiation[3], as well as the conventional way of fractionating radiotherapy in many small doses with the aim of reducing long-term toxicity to solid organs, which may exacerbate lymphocyte depletion by damaging new supplies of lymphocytes at each fraction.
Source: Radiotherapy and Oncology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research