Radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process - differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier function

PurposeColorectal cancer (CRC) is still one of the most common malignant tumors, with gradual increase in its annual morbidity and mortality. But most cases are diagnosed in the late stage. For stage II-III cancer, clinical guidelines recommend surgery following neoadjuvant radiation therapy at ≥6 w...

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Main Authors: Zhang Jingjing, Wang Kun, Qiao Yanyu, Zhang Mengjie, Chen Yunqing, Tian Yulong, Jiao Xuelong, Tan Xiaojie, Jiang Haitao, Hou Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1590219/full
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author Zhang Jingjing
Wang Kun
Qiao Yanyu
Zhang Mengjie
Chen Yunqing
Tian Yulong
Jiao Xuelong
Tan Xiaojie
Jiang Haitao
Hou Feng
author_facet Zhang Jingjing
Wang Kun
Qiao Yanyu
Zhang Mengjie
Chen Yunqing
Tian Yulong
Jiao Xuelong
Tan Xiaojie
Jiang Haitao
Hou Feng
author_sort Zhang Jingjing
collection DOAJ
description PurposeColorectal cancer (CRC) is still one of the most common malignant tumors, with gradual increase in its annual morbidity and mortality. But most cases are diagnosed in the late stage. For stage II-III cancer, clinical guidelines recommend surgery following neoadjuvant radiation therapy at ≥6 weeks after the last radiotherapy is completed. However, radiotherapy may impair intestinal mucosal barrier function, especially the biological and immune barriers, accompanied by perioperative complications. This study was conducted to investigate the changes, repair patterns, and potential mechanisms in patients after radiotherapy.MethodsThis study detected inflammatory factors in postoperative intestinal mucosal tissue and serum, as well as metabolites in saliva samples, and collected hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained pathological images in CRC patients who had received and did not receive radiotherapy.ResultsThe results showed that after radiotherapy, there were significantly impaired intestinal mucosal tissue structure; obviously elevated inflammatory factors in intestinal mucosal tissue and blood; as well as upregulation/downregulation of metabolites in saliva samples.ConclusionIn conclusion, findings in this study may provide potential reference for predicting the recovery of intestinal mucosa and selecting the optimal timing for surgery after radiotherapy. In addition, this study will benefit the understanding and reduction of perioperative complications caused by intestinal barrier damage.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-b2ac03afe8494c83a1fbaaf4fef52f642025-08-20T03:25:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15902191590219Radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process - differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier functionZhang Jingjing0Wang Kun1Qiao Yanyu2Zhang Mengjie3Chen Yunqing4Tian Yulong5Jiao Xuelong6Tan Xiaojie7Jiang Haitao8Hou Feng9Department of Pathology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Pathology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gynaecology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Pathology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Pathology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaPurposeColorectal cancer (CRC) is still one of the most common malignant tumors, with gradual increase in its annual morbidity and mortality. But most cases are diagnosed in the late stage. For stage II-III cancer, clinical guidelines recommend surgery following neoadjuvant radiation therapy at ≥6 weeks after the last radiotherapy is completed. However, radiotherapy may impair intestinal mucosal barrier function, especially the biological and immune barriers, accompanied by perioperative complications. This study was conducted to investigate the changes, repair patterns, and potential mechanisms in patients after radiotherapy.MethodsThis study detected inflammatory factors in postoperative intestinal mucosal tissue and serum, as well as metabolites in saliva samples, and collected hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained pathological images in CRC patients who had received and did not receive radiotherapy.ResultsThe results showed that after radiotherapy, there were significantly impaired intestinal mucosal tissue structure; obviously elevated inflammatory factors in intestinal mucosal tissue and blood; as well as upregulation/downregulation of metabolites in saliva samples.ConclusionIn conclusion, findings in this study may provide potential reference for predicting the recovery of intestinal mucosa and selecting the optimal timing for surgery after radiotherapy. In addition, this study will benefit the understanding and reduction of perioperative complications caused by intestinal barrier damage.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1590219/fullrectal cancerradiotherapydamage and repairintestinal mucosal barrierbiological barrierimmune barrier
spellingShingle Zhang Jingjing
Wang Kun
Qiao Yanyu
Zhang Mengjie
Chen Yunqing
Tian Yulong
Jiao Xuelong
Tan Xiaojie
Jiang Haitao
Hou Feng
Radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process - differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier function
Frontiers in Immunology
rectal cancer
radiotherapy
damage and repair
intestinal mucosal barrier
biological barrier
immune barrier
title Radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process - differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier function
title_full Radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process - differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier function
title_fullStr Radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process - differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier function
title_full_unstemmed Radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process - differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier function
title_short Radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process - differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier function
title_sort radiation therapy induced intestinal barrier damage and repair process differences in salivary metabolites and monitoring of intestinal barrier function
topic rectal cancer
radiotherapy
damage and repair
intestinal mucosal barrier
biological barrier
immune barrier
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1590219/full
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