Radiotherapy and integrin signaling in cancer

Integrins, a family of transmembrane proteins have been gaining wide interest in radiobiological studies owing to their ability to facilitate cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. Recent studies have reported the importance of integrins in radiation response, making them potential targets for improving the efficacy of radiotherapy. In this review, we provide a robust understanding of the role of integrins in radiotherapy and its various molecular applications. In addition, we emphasize the mechanisms through which integrins mediate the signal transduction cascade events. Also, we review the role of integrins in the tumor microenvironment and how they contribute to the radioresistance of cancer cells. In addition, we review the strategies targeting integrins in combination with radiotherapy to overcome the resistance of cancer cells to ionizing radiation. Overall, this review summarizes the essence of integrins in radiotherapy and further suggests the challenges and future directions in this field. (author)