Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The primary goal in the treatment of pediatric malignancies is to maintain effective cancer control while minimizing toxicities and late effects. Radiotherapy is a component of standard therapy against many pediatric cancers, but tumor cell DNA damage repair mechanisms and the hypoxic tumor microenvironment may limit the effectiveness of this modality. Additionally, irradiated cancer cells often acquire resistance to radiotherapy that permits cancer cell survival or stimulates tumor regrowth after treatment, further limiting the efficacy of radiotherapy. Various preclinical studies have investigated the potential of combining chemotherapy or immunotherapy with radiotherapy, with the goal of inducing a more lethal amount of DNA damage and prohibiting cells from acquiring radiotherapy resistance. This review provides an overview of the current strategies to enhance cancer cell response to radiotherapy, providing a framework to improve outcomes for children with solid tumors.
Source: Cancers
Institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
OpenAlex ID: W7166543276