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Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects01:12

Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects

While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Biological Effects of Radiation02:59

Biological Effects of Radiation

All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they produce ions...
Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects01:25

Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects

Acute inflammation produces a coordinated set of local and systemic changes that limit injury, eliminate pathogens, and initiate repair. These responses arise within minutes of infection, trauma, or chemical insult and are driven by vascular alterations and leukocyte-derived mediators. When the stimulus resolves, the reaction typically abates within days.Local EffectsAt the site of injury, arteriolar vasodilation increases blood flow, resulting in redness and warmth. Simultaneously, increased...
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Computational Modeling Approach to Investigate the Influence of Hyperthermia on the Tumor Microenvironment
10:23

A Computational Modeling Approach to Investigate the Influence of Hyperthermia on the Tumor Microenvironment

Published on: December 1, 2023

Systemic effects of local radiotherapy.

Silvia C Formenti1, Sandra Demaria

  • 1Department of Radiation Oncology, NYU Langone Medical Center and NYU Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. silvia.formenti@med.nyu.edu

The Lancet. Oncology
|July 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Radiotherapy, traditionally for localized cancer, also triggers systemic immune responses. Combining radiation with immunotherapy offers a novel strategy to enhance anti-cancer effects beyond the treatment area.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Computational Modeling Approach to Investigate the Influence of Hyperthermia on the Tumor Microenvironment
10:23

A Computational Modeling Approach to Investigate the Influence of Hyperthermia on the Tumor Microenvironment

Published on: December 1, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Radiation Oncology

Background:

  • Radiotherapy is a primary cancer treatment targeting localized tumors.
  • Emerging evidence shows radiotherapy induces systemic biological effects beyond the irradiated site.
  • The immune system plays a crucial role in mediating responses to cytotoxic cancer treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the systemic effects of radiotherapy.
  • To discuss the implications of radiotherapy-induced immune responses.
  • To highlight the potential of combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current evidence on radiotherapy's systemic effects.
  • Analysis of the immune system's role in response to radiotherapy.
  • Discussion of therapeutic opportunities arising from combined treatments.

Main Results:

  • Radiotherapy can activate biological effectors outside the treatment field.
  • The immune system senses and responds to radiotherapy's effects.
  • Radiotherapy may reverse tumor microenvironment immunosuppression, enhancing immunogenicity.

Conclusions:

  • Radiotherapy has significant systemic and immune-modulating effects.
  • Combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy presents a promising therapeutic strategy.
  • Local radiation can synergize with immunotherapy to induce abscopal anti-tumor responses.