Does intestinal damage determine the inflammatory response and early complications in patients receiving conditioning for a stem cell transplantation?
The degree of intestinal damage after myeloablative conditioning appeared to be the most important determined the inflammatory response following SCT, and was associated with inflammatory complications. Studies should explore ways to ameliorate cytotoxic therapy-induced intestinal damage in order to reduce complications associated with myeloablative conditioning therapy.
These findings represent the first genetic evidence that factors other than inherent tumor cell radiosensitivity are important determinants of radiocurability. Antitumor strategies targeting VEGF and other endothelial cell survival mechanisms may be used to enhance the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy.