The effects of high-dose radiation therapy on bone: a scoping review

This scoping review presents the preclinical and clinical data on the effects of high-dose radiation therapy (RT) on bone structure and function.

An extensive PubMed search was performed for the relevant questions. The data were then synthesized into a comprehensive summary of the available relevant in-vitro, preclinical and clinical literature.

In-vitro studies of high-dose RT on cell cultures show considerable damage in the viability and functional capacity of the primary cells of the bones; the osteoclasts, the osteoblasts, and the osteocytes. In-vivo animal models show that high-dose RT induces significant morphological changes to the bone, inhibits the ability of bone to repair damage, and increases the fragility of the bone. Clinical data show that there is an increasing risk over time of damage to the bone, such as fractures, after high-dose RT.

These findings suggest that there may be a limit to the safe dose for single-fraction RT, and the long-term consequences of high-dose RT for the patients must be considered.