Tuning the radio with CD47

One potential problem with radioprotectants for normal tissues is they can also shield tumor cells from the radiation therapy aiming to knock out the cancer. Researchers at theNational Cancer Institute have found that blocking a pathway involving thrombospondin-1 and its cell-surface receptor, CD47, can not only protect healthy tissues from radiation damage but also improve the antitumor efficacy of radiotherapy.¹

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1; THBS1) acts through CD47 to curb the prosurvival effects of nitric oxide (NO). NO turns on cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling, which prevents apoptosis in healthy cells. Therefore, blocking the TSP-1-CD47 pathway could preserve protective NO levels and increase survival of healthy cells subjected to radiation as part of cancer treatment...