Radiogene

Radiogene is a term used in radiobiology and radiogenomics to describe any gene whose activity influences the cellular or organismal response to ionizing radiation. A radiogene may participate in sensing DNA damage, coordinating DNA repair, regulating cell cycle checkpoints, promoting apoptosis or senescence, or modulating oxidative stress and radiotolerance. The term is not universally standardized and is often used descriptively to denote genes implicated in radiation response.

In radiogenomics, radiogenes are studied to explain how genetic variation affects radiation sensitivity, treatment efficacy, and toxicity. Researchers may identify radiogenes that predict tumor radiosensitivity or risk of normal tissue injury, and may combine this information with imaging-derived biomarkers in a radiogenomic framework.

Mechanistically, radiogenes participate in DNA damage response pathways, including sensing and signaling of DNA breaks, repair through non-homologous end joining or homologous recombination, cell cycle control, apoptosis, and antioxidant defenses. Because radiation responses are complex and tissue-specific, the set of radiogenic genes is dynamic and context dependent.

Methods used to study radiogenes include genome-wide association studies, transcriptomics, proteomics, and CRISPR-based functional screens, as well as integrative analyses linking genomic data with radiomic imaging features. Clinically, the concept underpins efforts to tailor radiotherapy, predict toxicity risk, and develop radioprotective strategies, though practical implementation faces challenges such as polygenic effects and data privacy concerns.