Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches

Hamed Charkhian; Sule Karaman; Rabia Nergiz Dagoglu Sakin; Seref Bugra Tuncer

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15

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| Peer-Reviewed

Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches

Hamed Charkhian

, Sule Karaman

, Rabia Nergiz Dagoglu Sakin

, Seref Bugra Tuncer^*

Published in International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research (Volume 10, Issue 4)

Received: 14 September 2025 Accepted: 25 October 2025 Published: 19 December 2025

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Abstract

Radiotherapy (RT) remains one of the most essential and effective modalities in cancer treatment, administered to more than half of all patients for both curative and palliative purposes. Despite remarkable technological advances in precision targeting and dose modulation, radiation-induced skin injuries (RISIs) remain among the most common and distressing side effects of RT, affecting approximately 85-95% of patients. These cutaneous toxicities—ranging from transient erythema and dry desquamation to severe ulceration, fibrosis, and necrosis—reflect complex cellular and molecular disruptions. The clinical management of RISIs remains inconsistent, with no universally accepted standard of care. While traditional topical agents and dressings provide symptomatic relief, their efficacy is limited by poor stability and insufficient antioxidant activity. Recent evidence underscores the promise of targeted molecular therapies—such as TGF-β/Smad3 and COX-2 inhibition—alongside regenerative approaches involving mesenchymal stem cells, biomaterials, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Furthermore, integrating predictive biomarkers may enable personalized prevention and treatment strategies. This review synthesizes current insights into the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of RISIs, highlighting both established and emerging therapeutic modalities. By bridging mechanistic understanding with translational innovation, it aims to inform the development of more effective, biologically guided interventions that mitigate toxicity, enhance tissue repair, and ultimately improve the quality of life and treatment outcomes for cancer patients.

Published in	International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research (Volume 10, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15
Page(s)	157-166
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Radiotherapy, Skin Injuries, RISI, Molecular Mechanism, Cellular Senescence, Bystander Effect

References

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APA Style

Charkhian, H., Karaman, S., Sakin, R. N. D., Tuncer, S. B. (2025). Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research, 10(4), 157-166. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15

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ACS Style

Charkhian, H.; Karaman, S.; Sakin, R. N. D.; Tuncer, S. B. Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. Int. J. Clin. Oncol. Cancer Res. 2025, 10(4), 157-166. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15

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AMA Style

Charkhian H, Karaman S, Sakin RND, Tuncer SB. Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Clin Oncol Cancer Res. 2025;10(4):157-166. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15,
  author = {Hamed Charkhian and Sule Karaman and Rabia Nergiz Dagoglu Sakin and Seref Bugra Tuncer},
  title = {Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches},
  journal = {International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research},
  volume = {10},
  number = {4},
  pages = {157-166},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcocr.20251004.15},
  abstract = {Radiotherapy (RT) remains one of the most essential and effective modalities in cancer treatment, administered to more than half of all patients for both curative and palliative purposes. Despite remarkable technological advances in precision targeting and dose modulation, radiation-induced skin injuries (RISIs) remain among the most common and distressing side effects of RT, affecting approximately 85-95% of patients. These cutaneous toxicities—ranging from transient erythema and dry desquamation to severe ulceration, fibrosis, and necrosis—reflect complex cellular and molecular disruptions. The clinical management of RISIs remains inconsistent, with no universally accepted standard of care. While traditional topical agents and dressings provide symptomatic relief, their efficacy is limited by poor stability and insufficient antioxidant activity. Recent evidence underscores the promise of targeted molecular therapies—such as TGF-β/Smad3 and COX-2 inhibition—alongside regenerative approaches involving mesenchymal stem cells, biomaterials, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Furthermore, integrating predictive biomarkers may enable personalized prevention and treatment strategies. This review synthesizes current insights into the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of RISIs, highlighting both established and emerging therapeutic modalities. By bridging mechanistic understanding with translational innovation, it aims to inform the development of more effective, biologically guided interventions that mitigate toxicity, enhance tissue repair, and ultimately improve the quality of life and treatment outcomes for cancer patients.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches
AU  - Hamed Charkhian
AU  - Sule Karaman
AU  - Rabia Nergiz Dagoglu Sakin
AU  - Seref Bugra Tuncer
Y1  - 2025/12/19
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15
T2  - International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research
JF  - International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research
JO  - International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research
SP  - 157
EP  - 166
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-9511
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15
AB  - Radiotherapy (RT) remains one of the most essential and effective modalities in cancer treatment, administered to more than half of all patients for both curative and palliative purposes. Despite remarkable technological advances in precision targeting and dose modulation, radiation-induced skin injuries (RISIs) remain among the most common and distressing side effects of RT, affecting approximately 85-95% of patients. These cutaneous toxicities—ranging from transient erythema and dry desquamation to severe ulceration, fibrosis, and necrosis—reflect complex cellular and molecular disruptions. The clinical management of RISIs remains inconsistent, with no universally accepted standard of care. While traditional topical agents and dressings provide symptomatic relief, their efficacy is limited by poor stability and insufficient antioxidant activity. Recent evidence underscores the promise of targeted molecular therapies—such as TGF-β/Smad3 and COX-2 inhibition—alongside regenerative approaches involving mesenchymal stem cells, biomaterials, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Furthermore, integrating predictive biomarkers may enable personalized prevention and treatment strategies. This review synthesizes current insights into the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of RISIs, highlighting both established and emerging therapeutic modalities. By bridging mechanistic understanding with translational innovation, it aims to inform the development of more effective, biologically guided interventions that mitigate toxicity, enhance tissue repair, and ultimately improve the quality of life and treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
VL  - 10
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Hamed Charkhian

Institute of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey;Department of Cancer Genetics, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7035-3704
Sule Karaman

Department of Radiation Oncology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4810-4453
Rabia Nergiz Dagoglu Sakin

Department of Radiation Oncology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3925-3382
Seref Bugra Tuncer

Department of Cancer Genetics, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8023-3223

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APA Style

Charkhian, H., Karaman, S., Sakin, R. N. D., Tuncer, S. B. (2025). Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research, 10(4), 157-166. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15

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ACS Style

Charkhian, H.; Karaman, S.; Sakin, R. N. D.; Tuncer, S. B. Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. Int. J. Clin. Oncol. Cancer Res. 2025, 10(4), 157-166. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15

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AMA Style

Charkhian H, Karaman S, Sakin RND, Tuncer SB. Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Clin Oncol Cancer Res. 2025;10(4):157-166. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15,
  author = {Hamed Charkhian and Sule Karaman and Rabia Nergiz Dagoglu Sakin and Seref Bugra Tuncer},
  title = {Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches},
  journal = {International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research},
  volume = {10},
  number = {4},
  pages = {157-166},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcocr.20251004.15},
  abstract = {Radiotherapy (RT) remains one of the most essential and effective modalities in cancer treatment, administered to more than half of all patients for both curative and palliative purposes. Despite remarkable technological advances in precision targeting and dose modulation, radiation-induced skin injuries (RISIs) remain among the most common and distressing side effects of RT, affecting approximately 85-95% of patients. These cutaneous toxicities—ranging from transient erythema and dry desquamation to severe ulceration, fibrosis, and necrosis—reflect complex cellular and molecular disruptions. The clinical management of RISIs remains inconsistent, with no universally accepted standard of care. While traditional topical agents and dressings provide symptomatic relief, their efficacy is limited by poor stability and insufficient antioxidant activity. Recent evidence underscores the promise of targeted molecular therapies—such as TGF-β/Smad3 and COX-2 inhibition—alongside regenerative approaches involving mesenchymal stem cells, biomaterials, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Furthermore, integrating predictive biomarkers may enable personalized prevention and treatment strategies. This review synthesizes current insights into the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of RISIs, highlighting both established and emerging therapeutic modalities. By bridging mechanistic understanding with translational innovation, it aims to inform the development of more effective, biologically guided interventions that mitigate toxicity, enhance tissue repair, and ultimately improve the quality of life and treatment outcomes for cancer patients.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Injuries (RISIs): Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches
AU  - Hamed Charkhian
AU  - Sule Karaman
AU  - Rabia Nergiz Dagoglu Sakin
AU  - Seref Bugra Tuncer
Y1  - 2025/12/19
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15
T2  - International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research
JF  - International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research
JO  - International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research
SP  - 157
EP  - 166
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-9511
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20251004.15
AB  - Radiotherapy (RT) remains one of the most essential and effective modalities in cancer treatment, administered to more than half of all patients for both curative and palliative purposes. Despite remarkable technological advances in precision targeting and dose modulation, radiation-induced skin injuries (RISIs) remain among the most common and distressing side effects of RT, affecting approximately 85-95% of patients. These cutaneous toxicities—ranging from transient erythema and dry desquamation to severe ulceration, fibrosis, and necrosis—reflect complex cellular and molecular disruptions. The clinical management of RISIs remains inconsistent, with no universally accepted standard of care. While traditional topical agents and dressings provide symptomatic relief, their efficacy is limited by poor stability and insufficient antioxidant activity. Recent evidence underscores the promise of targeted molecular therapies—such as TGF-β/Smad3 and COX-2 inhibition—alongside regenerative approaches involving mesenchymal stem cells, biomaterials, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Furthermore, integrating predictive biomarkers may enable personalized prevention and treatment strategies. This review synthesizes current insights into the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of RISIs, highlighting both established and emerging therapeutic modalities. By bridging mechanistic understanding with translational innovation, it aims to inform the development of more effective, biologically guided interventions that mitigate toxicity, enhance tissue repair, and ultimately improve the quality of life and treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
VL  - 10
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download