A Cross-Talk about Radioresistance in Lung Cancer—How to Improve Radiosensitivity According to Chinese Medicine and Medicaments That Commonly Occur in Pharmacies

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the population and is characterized by non-specific symptoms that delay the diagnosis and reduce the effectiveness of oncological treatment. Due to the difficult placement of the tumor, one of the main methods of lung cancer treatment is radiotherapy, which damages the DNA of cancer cells, inducing their apoptosis. However, resistance to ionizing radiation may develop during radiotherapy cycles, leading to an increase in the number of DNA points of control that protect cells from apoptosis. Cancer stem cells are essential for radioresistance, and due to their ability to undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition, they modify the phenotype, bypassing the genotoxic effect of radiotherapy. It is therefore necessary to search for new methods that could improve the cytotoxic effect of cells through new mechanisms of action. Chinese medicine, with several thousand years of tradition, offers a wide range of possibilities in the search for compounds that could be used in conventional medicine. This review introduces the potential candidates that may present a radiosensitizing effect on lung cancer cells, breaking their radioresistance. Additionally, it includes candidates taken from conventional medicine—drugs commonly available in pharmacies, which may also be significant candidates.

Progress in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma by integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine

“…Incorporating Chinese medicine as an adjunct to radiotherapy can effectively mitigate the toxic side effects experienced by patients following radiotherapy. It helps alleviate post-radiotherapy discomfort, enhances patient compliance, and improves treatment efficacy ( 66 ).…”

Isocorydine Exerts Anticancer Activity by Disrupting the Energy Metabolism and Filamentous Actin Structures of Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cells

“…Many of them have been used in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of various cancers, effectively reducing side effects and enhancing the efficacy of the drugs. Furthermore, herbs or their monomer extracts have also been reported to enhance the radiosensitivity of cancer cells due to their low toxicity, mild action, and strong antitumor activity [8]. In recent years, the antitumor efficacy of various herbs in OSCC, such as Neferine (NEF) [9], Danshensu [10],…”

Radiation Damage in Biomolecules and Cells 3.0

“…In the framework of cancer radiotherapy research, Nowak et al [ 13 ] investigated how to improve the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells based on Chinese medicine and/or conventional medicine pharmacy drugs by reviewing potential candidates that may show a radio-sensitizing effect on lung cancer cells. Finally, concerning radiation-induced damage at the tissue, organ, and organism level, Ramos et al [ 14 ] predicted astronauts’ doses in the event of exposure to cosmic rays during a long-term mission in deep space, such as a future journey to Mars.…”