Advances in the study of the molecular biological mechanisms of radiation-induced brain injury.
Gan Chen, Wen Li, Jian Xu, Lulian Pang, Lingxue Tang, Sheng Yu, Anlong Li, Han Ge, Runze Huang, Huaidong Cheng
Abstract
Radiation therapy is one of the most commonly used treatments for head and neck cancers, but it often leads to radiation-induced brain injury. Patients with radiation-induced brain injury have a poorer quality of life, and no effective treatments are available. The pathogenesis of this condition is unknown. This review summarizes the molecular biological mechanism of radiation-induced brain injury and provides research directions for future studies. The molecular mechanisms of radiation-induced brain injury are diverse and complex. Radiation-induced chronic neuroinflammation, destruction of the blood-brain barrier, oxidative stress, neuronal damage, and physiopathological responses caused by specific exosome secretion lead to radiation-induced brain injury.