Natural Radiosensitizers in Radiotherapy: Cancer Treatment by Combining Ionizing Radiation with Resveratrol

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Radiotherapy

Background:

• Conventional cancer treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have limitations.
• Cancer cell radioresistance is a major challenge in radiotherapy, often leading to treatment failure.
• Natural compounds are being explored as adjuvants to improve radiotherapy efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review naturally occurring radiosensitizers with potential clinical applications.
• To discuss phytocompounds that enhance the effects of radiotherapy in treating radioresistant neoplasms.
• To highlight specific natural radiosensitizers currently in clinical trials or with strong research backing.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific studies on natural radiosensitizers.
• Focus on compounds with confirmed radiation-sensitizing effects.
• Inclusion of compounds in clinical trials and those with extensive independent research.

Main Results:

• Several natural compounds, including paclitaxel, curcumin, genistein, and papaverine, are in clinical trials as radiosensitizers.
• Resveratrol has demonstrated repeatedly confirmed radiation-sensitizing effects in numerous studies.
• Phytocompounds offer a promising avenue for overcoming cancer cell radioresistance.

Conclusions:

• Natural radiosensitizers represent a valuable strategy to enhance radiotherapy outcomes.
• Further research and clinical trials are warranted to fully integrate these natural compounds into cancer treatment protocols.
• Phytocompounds can potentially improve patient survival by increasing cancer cell sensitivity to radiation.