A systematic review of the influence of radiation-induced lymphopenia on survival outcomes in solid tumors

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, Volume 123
Author(s): Bhanu Prasad Venkatesulu, Supriya Mallick, Steven H. Lin, Sunil Krishnan
Lymphopenia is a common accompaniment of multimodal cancer therapy. As the most radiosensitive cells of the hematopoietic system, lymphocytes residing within or circulating through a radiation portal are frequently depleted by radiation therapy. The recognition that radiation-induced reduction of circulating lymphocyte counts and eventual lymphocyte infiltration of tumors have a tangible impact on overall survival outcomes has revived the interest in understanding the causes of treatment-associated lymphopenia and developing strategies to predict, prevent and ameliorate this well-documented phenomenon. In this systematic review, we have performed a comprehensive search of the literature to elucidate the studies that document a correlation between radiation-associated lymphopenia and survival outcomes in solid malignancies. We also summarize potential unifying paradigms that account for radiation-induced lymphopenia across studies and lay the groundwork for attempting to explain and/or counter this phenomenon.



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