Abstract
Radiotherapy is an indispensible modality in cancer therapy. The mechanism of cell killing induced by ionizing radiation has been the focus of interest for decades. Based on a flurry of studies, it has been widely accepted that ionizing radiation can induce apoptosis as well as necrosis. Recently, other modes of cell killing have been also reported. The mechanisms and signal transduction pathways involved in these modes are important topics for future research for they would serve in optimizing the radiotherapeutic outcomes. Here, current data on apoptosis, autophagy, mitotic catastrophe, and senescence-like growth arrest induced by ionizing radiation will be discussed for better understanding of cell death modes and their implications.
