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The role of amifostine as a radioprotector.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wasserman, TH; Brizel, DM
Published in: Oncology (Williston Park)
October 2001

Effective radiotherapy for patients with cancer should include maximal tumor cell killing with minimal injury to normal tissue. Radiation doses that can be delivered, without causing severe damage to surrounding normal tissues, can be insufficient to eradicate a tumor. Agents have been developed to protect normal tissue from the toxicities of radiation. The aminothiol amifostine (Ethyol) is the subject of extensive research as a protector. Several studies have demonstrated that amifostine protects normal tissues from both acute and late radiation damage without protecting the tumor. This article reviews the physicochemical basis of radiation therapy on biologic tissues and the mechanisms responsible for the protective effects of amifostine. The increasing body of biochemical, preclinical, and clinical data can justify the use of protectors such as amifostine with radiotherapy to provide improved therapeutic efficacy and quality of life for the patient. This article will review the current understanding of the nature of toxicity resulting from radiation therapy and the benefits that can be derived from using protection to increase the tolerance of normal tissue to radiation damage.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Oncology (Williston Park)

ISSN

0890-9091

Publication Date

October 2001

Volume

15

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1349 / 1354

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Radiotherapy
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • Radiation Injuries
  • Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Wasserman, T. H., & Brizel, D. M. (2001). The role of amifostine as a radioprotector. Oncology (Williston Park), 15(10), 1349–1354.
Wasserman, T. H., and D. M. Brizel. “The role of amifostine as a radioprotector.Oncology (Williston Park) 15, no. 10 (October 2001): 1349–54.
Wasserman TH, Brizel DM. The role of amifostine as a radioprotector. Oncology (Williston Park). 2001 Oct;15(10):1349–54.
Wasserman, T. H., and D. M. Brizel. “The role of amifostine as a radioprotector.Oncology (Williston Park), vol. 15, no. 10, Oct. 2001, pp. 1349–54.
Wasserman TH, Brizel DM. The role of amifostine as a radioprotector. Oncology (Williston Park). 2001 Oct;15(10):1349–1354.

Published In

Oncology (Williston Park)

ISSN

0890-9091

Publication Date

October 2001

Volume

15

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1349 / 1354

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Radiotherapy
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • Radiation Injuries
  • Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic