Role of radiation-induced rescue effect in radiation field size effect

The present paper reviewed the role of radiation-induced rescue effect (RIRE) in radiation field size effect. “Radiation field size effect” refers to the phenomenon that the radiobiological effects of ionizing radiation depend on the size of the irradiated area, besides depending on the equivalent dose. RIRE refers to the mitigation of detrimental effects in irradiated cells after receiving signals from non-irradiated bystander cells, or after receiving signals from the medium which has previously conditioned the non-irradiated bystander cells. The present paper will first give a brief review on RIRE, including the definition and classification of RIRE, as well as the signalling pathways and chemical messengers which have been identified for RIRE, and will then give a review of selected literature related to radiation field size effects. Discussion as well as some thoughts on future priorities and directions of research in the role of RIRE in radiation field size effect will then be presented.