Shukla L, Morrison WA, Shayan R, et al.
Frontiers in surgery. Date of publication 2015 Jan 28;volume 2():1.
1. Front Surg. 2015 Jan 28;2:1. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2015.00001. eCollection 2015.
Adipose-derived stem cells in radiotherapy injury: a new frontier.
Shukla L(1), Morrison WA(2), Shayan R(2).
Author information:
(1)Regenerative Surgery Group, O'Brien Institute , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ;
Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia
; Regenerative Surgery Group, Australian Catholic University and O'Brien
Institute Tissue Engineering Centre (AORTEC) , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia.
(2)Regenerative Surgery Group, O'Brien Institute , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ;
Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia
; Regenerative Surgery Group, Australian Catholic University and O'Brien
Institute Tissue Engineering Centre (AORTEC) , Fitzroy, VIC , Australia ;
Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, VIC , Australia.
Radiotherapy is increasingly used to treat numerous human malignancies. In
addition to the beneficial anti-cancer effects, there are a series of undesirable
effects on normal host tissues surrounding the target tumor. While the early
effects of radiotherapy (desquamation, erythema, and hair loss) typically
resolve, the chronic effects persist as unpredictable and often troublesome
sequelae of cancer treatment, long after oncological treatment has been
completed. Plastic surgeons are often called upon to treat the problems
subsequently arising in irradiated tissues, such as recurrent infection, impaired
healing, fibrosis, contracture, and/or lymphedema. Recently, it was anecdotally
noted - then validated in more robust animal and human studies - that fat
grafting can ameliorate some of these chronic tissue effects. Despite the
widespread usage of fat grafting, the mechanism of its action remains poorly
understood. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of: (i)
mechanisms of chronic radiation injury and its clinical manifestations; (ii)
biological properties of fat grafts and their key constituent, adipose-derived
stem cells (ADSCs); and (iii) the role of ADSCs in radiotherapy-induced
soft-tissue injury.
DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2015.00001
PMCID: PMC4309196
PMID: 25674565
