Unethical not to Investigate Radiotherapy for COVID-19.
Jerry M CuttlerJoseph J BevelacquaS M J MortazaviPublished in: Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society (2020)
The primum non nocere letter by Boon et al. urged caution and careful examination of the evidence and logistics of low-dose radiotherapy in COVID-19 patients. This is exactly what was requested in March and what has occurred since late April 2020 when the first phase I/II clinical trial was approved at the Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University Hospital. The preprint of day-7 interim results by the investigators concluded, "In a small pilot trial of 5 oxygen-dependent patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, low-dose whole-lung radiation led to rapid improvement in clinical status, encephalopathy, and radiographic infiltrates without acute toxicity or worsening the cytokine storm. Low-dose whole-lung radiation appears to be safe, shows early promise of efficacy, and warrants larger prospective trials." Preliminary results from another clinical trial gave similar results. In conclusion, the authors believe it would be unethical not to investigate radiotherapy as a potential remedy against COVID-19 induced pneumonia.
Keyphrases
- low dose
- clinical trial
- sars cov
- radiation induced
- early stage
- coronavirus disease
- locally advanced
- high dose
- radiation therapy
- respiratory failure
- drug induced
- phase ii
- oxidative stress
- open label
- papillary thyroid
- liver failure
- study protocol
- double blind
- early onset
- diabetic rats
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- high glucose
- randomized controlled trial
- phase iii
- big data
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- aortic dissection
- risk assessment
- human health
- mechanical ventilation
- placebo controlled