Research progress on radiation-induced bystander effect

摘要

Highlights Radiation-induced bystander effect is a common side reaction of radiotherapy and has a strong impact on the cancer patients. Editor’s Summary The mechanism of the bystander effect is not fully understood. Recently, studies on exosomes have attracted widespread attention. Whether exosomes play an important role in the bystander effect requires further research. Radiation-induced bystander effect is the phenomenon that the cells which are not directly exposed to radiation have identical or similar biological reactions with the cells of direct exposure to radiation. It is a common second reaction of radiotherapy and has a strong impact on cancer patients. Here we review and synthesize its studies in vitro and in vivo, its time effect and the mechanism. And the existing problems and its research significance are also discussed.