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Revlimid as Radioprotector?!
Revlimid as radioprotector? A chemotherapy for multiple myeloma that also can protect normal tissues from the damage caused by radiation? Sounds good.
According to research, more than a third of all MM patients undergo radiation. As we all know, radiation is great at zapping MM but can damage surrounding normal cells. I sustained a great deal of radiation damage while undergoing radiation as a matter of fact.
I am linking the short video below because the oncologist gives a thorough explanation of radiation for the MM patient. I am curious to hear what a MM specialist thinks about revlimid as radioprotector.
All About Radiation Therapy
What therapies have been shown to be radio protectors?
Radioprotective therapies aim to protect healthy tissues from the damaging effects of ionizing radiation, whether from radiation therapy, nuclear accidents, or other exposures. These agents work through a variety of mechanisms including scavenging free radicals, enhancing DNA repair, or modulating immune responses.
Here are some of the key therapies and compounds shown to have radioprotective effects:
🧪 FDA-Approved or Clinically Used Agents
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Amifostine (Ethyol)
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Mechanism: Free radical scavenger; protects normal tissues but not tumor cells.
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Use: Approved to reduce xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation, and to reduce renal toxicity from cisplatin.
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Notes: Must be administered intravenously; has side effects like hypotension and nausea.
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Palifermin (Kepivance)
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Mechanism: Recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF); stimulates epithelial cell growth.
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Use: Prevents oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for hematologic cancers.
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🧬 Promising Radioprotectors (Investigational or Preclinical)
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Antioxidants (e.g., Vitamin E, Vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine)
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Mechanism: Neutralize radiation-induced free radicals.
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Evidence: Mixed—some studies show protection, others caution against use during radiotherapy due to tumor protection risk.
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Melatonin
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Mechanism: Potent antioxidant; also modulates immune response and DNA repair.
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Evidence: Preclinical data supports radioprotective effects; some small clinical studies show benefit.
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Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD) mimetics (e.g., GC4419, now avasopasem manganese)
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Mechanism: Mimic endogenous antioxidant enzymes.
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Use: GC4419 is in advanced trials for mucositis protection.
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Tocotrienols (e.g., γ-tocotrienol)
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Mechanism: Vitamin E variant with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
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Evidence: Preclinical studies show promising results for radioprotection.
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🧫 Biologics & Cytokines
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Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)
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Use: Promotes recovery of white blood cells post-radiation.
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Not preventive, but mitigates hematopoietic radiation syndrome.
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Interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and TNF-α inhibitors
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Mechanism: Modulate inflammatory response; preclinical studies show potential in reducing radiation injury.
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Probiotics & Microbiome Modulation
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Evidence: Emerging evidence suggests gut microbiota modulation can protect against GI toxicity from radiation.
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💊 Other Agents in Development
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CBLB502 (derived from flagellin): TLR5 agonist with strong preclinical and early clinical data as a radioprotective agent.
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Entolimod: Also derived from bacterial flagellin; shows promise in protecting normal tissues from radiation.
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Gene therapy approaches: e.g., overexpression of antioxidants or DNA repair genes.
⚠️ Important Considerations:
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Tumor Protection Risk: Some antioxidants or growth factors may protect cancer cells if not carefully timed or targeted.
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Timing & Dosing Matter: Many radioprotective agents are effective only when administered before or very shortly after radiation.
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Personalization is Key: Different tissues and patients respond differently to radioprotectors.
More than other blog posts written for PBC, this issue- revlimid as radioprotector should encourage the MM patient to discuss when this means for their therapy plan.
Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com with questions about your MM therapies- both conventional and non-conventional.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
“A radioprotector is a substance that reduces the harmful effects of radiation on normal tissues by preventing or mitigating radiation-induced damage. They are typically administered before or at the time of radiation exposure to minimize harm.”
Reposition of lenalidomide as a radiation protector based on LINCS gene expression signatures and its preclinical validation
Abstract
Ionizing radiation induces DNA damage and impairs genomic integrity, leading to cell death and tissue injuries or carcinogenesis. Medical radiation protectors are essential and necessary.
However, there are limited radioprotectors in clinics, which can’t meet the growing demand for countering radiation emergencies. Traditional drug discovery approach has been proven expensive and risky.
Computational drug repositioning provides an attractive strategy for radioprotector discovery. Here we constructed a systematic workflow to identify repositioning radioprotectors by comparison of biosimilarity between γ-ray and known medicines characterized by gene expression signatures from GEO and LINCS.
Using enrichment scoring, medicines with negative scores were considered as candidates of revising or mitigating radiation injuries. Seven approved medicines were identified, and their targets enriched in steroid and estrogen metabolic, chemical carcinogenesis associated pathways.
Lenalidomide, an approved medicine for multiple myeloma and anemia, was further verified as a promising potential radioprotector. It increases survival of mice after lethal doses of irradiation by alleviating bone marrow and intestinal injury in vivo, and inhibits apoptosis of cultured irradiated AHH- 1 and IEC- 6 cells in vitro.
This study introduces rational drug repositioning to radiation medicine and provides viable candidates for radioprotective therapeutic regimens…
Revlimid as radioprotector? Revlimid as radioprotector? Revlimid as radioprotector?