Radiation Therapy Alters Mitochondrial Peptides Humanin and MOTS-c in Cancer Patients

Radiation therapy is a common and effective treatment for various cancers, including lung cancer and breast cancer. While its primary goal is to destroy cancer cells, it can also induce systemic effects in the body. Humanin and MOTS-c are mitochondrial-derived peptides known to play roles in cell survival, metabolism, and stress response. Understanding how radiation therapy influences the levels of these protective peptides could offer insights into treatment efficacy, side effects, and potential therapeutic targets.

The study observed significant alterations in the serum levels of both Humanin and MOTS-c following radiation therapy in cancer patients. Specifically, Humanin levels were found to be decreased post-treatment, suggesting a potential reduction in this protective peptide's availability. Conversely, MOTS-c levels demonstrated an increase after the completion of radiation therapy, indicating a differential response to the stress induced by treatment. The most important finding was the opposite directional change in these two mitochondrial peptides, with Humanin decreasing and MOTS-c increasing in response to radiation therapy. These findings highlight that radiation therapy not only targets cancer cells but also induces systemic changes in circulating protective peptides, potentially influencing patient recovery and side effects. The magnitude of these changes likely varied among individual patients and cancer types.