The ability of cells to repair damaged DNA plays an important role in determining the outcome of radiotherapy, which is one of the most common treatments for cancer. Although DNA repair mechanisms protect healthy cells from radiation-induced damage, they impact how well cancer cells are removed through the process.
It targets cancer cells with high-energy radiation, which leads to lethal DNA damage. However, if the DNA repair mechanisms in cancer cells are robust, the cells survive, leading to therapy resistance. Thus, understanding the balance between DNA repair in healthy and cancerous cells may lead to more effective treatments.
Recent studies focus on the use of DNA repair pathways as the target for cancer therapy. Inhibition of these pathways should increase the efficiency of radiotherapy while reducing damage to normal tissues.
This is a discovery that will change how cancer treatment should be approached for patients who have to undergo radiotherapy because the treatment could be tailored based on the capacity of the individual tumor to repair DNA.
