Radiation Therapy Can Promote Amphiregulin, Which Increases Growth of Metastases
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, July 10, 2025 -- Radiation therapy can promote the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand amphiregulin, which increases growth of existing metastases in patients with advanced solid tumors, according to a study recently published online in Nature.
András Piffkó, M.D., from the University of Chicago, and colleagues explored the potentially deleterious effect of radiation in promoting metastasis in patients with advanced solid tumors who received stereotactic body radiotherapy to multiple metastatic sites. Gene expression was examined in 22 matched preradiotherapy and postradiotherapy biopsies for irradiated metastases.
The researchers found that the EGFR ligand amphiregulin was induced by radiotherapy in tumor cells; amphiregulin reprograms EGFR-expressing myeloid cells toward an immunosuppressive phenotype and can reduce phagocytosis. Amphiregulin was involved in three of the top 20 upregulated gene pathways correlating with distant tumor progression. Patients whose tumors expressed increased amphiregulin had shorter progression-free and overall survival. Local radiotherapy reduced the number of lung metastases but increased their size via secretion of amphiregulin; gene knockout prevented this effect. Similar findings were seen in mouse lung metastasis models and were overcome by a blockade of amphiregulin.
"Interestingly, the combination of radiation and amphiregulin blockade decreased both tumor size and the number of metastatic sites," senior author Ralph R. Weichselbaum, M.D., also from the University of Chicago, said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2025
Read this next
Helping Others Linked to Higher Level of Cognitive Function
THURSDAY, Aug. 21, 2025 -- Helping others, both via formal volunteering and informal helping, is associated with higher levels of cognitive function and slower cognitive decline...
TAR-200 Monotherapy Promising for BCG-Unresponsive Bladder Cancer
THURSDAY, Aug. 21, 2025 -- For patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), an intravesical...
Work-Related Income Drops for Parents of Children Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes
THURSDAY, Aug. 21, 2025 -- Work-related income decreases sharply for mothers and fathers of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, with similar effects across sociodemographic...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.