Open AccessThe Use of Antioxidants in Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Toxicity
Author(s) -
Kyle T. Amber,
Michael I. Shiman,
Evangelos V. Badiavas
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
integrative cancer therapies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1552-695X
pISSN - 1534-7354
DOI - 10.1177/1534735413490235
Subject(s) - sucralfate , radiation therapy , medicine , antioxidant , toxicity , pharmacology , side effect (computer science) , free radical theory of aging , dermatology , chemistry , surgery , biochemistry , computer science , programming language
Radiation-induced skin damage is one of the most common complications of radiotherapy. In order to combat these side effects, patients often turn to alternative therapies, which often include antioxidants. Antioxidants such as those in the polyphenol chemical class, xanthine derivatives, tocepherol, sucralfate, and ascorbate have been studied for their use in either preventing or treating radiotherapy-induced skin damage. Apart from their known role as free radical scavengers, some of these antioxidants appear to alter cytokine release affecting cutaneous and systemic changes. We review the role of antioxidants in treating and preventing radiation-induced skin damage as well as the possible complications of using such therapy.