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© 2025 by the authors. Published by MDPI on behalf of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Total body irradiation (TBI) remains a cornerstone of conditioning for allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Whereas early research debated the need for irradiation, contemporary investigations focus on optimising dose, fractionation and delivery techniques. Material and Methods: We synthesised six decades of evidence, spanning from single-fraction cobalt treatments to modern helical tomotherapy and intensity-modulated total-marrow/lymphoid irradiation (TMI/TMLI). To complement the literature, we reported our institutional experience on 77 paediatric and adult recipients treated with conventional extended-source-to-skin-distance TBI at the University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico–San Marco” between 2015 and 2025. Results: According to literature data, fractionated myeloablative schedules, typically 12 Gy in 6 fractions, provide superior overall survival and lower rates of severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) compared with historical single-dose regimens. Conversely, reduced-intensity protocols of 2–4 Gy broaden HSCT eligibility for older or comorbid patients with acceptable toxicity. Conformal planning reliably decreases mean lung dose without compromising engraftment, and early-phase trials are testing selective escalation to 16–20 Gy or omission of TBI in molecularly favourable cases. With regard to our institutional retrospective series, 92% of patients completed a 12-Gy regimen with only transient grade 1–2 nausea, fatigue or hypotension; all transplanted patients engrafted, and no grade ≥ 3 radiation pneumonitis occurred. Conclusions: Collectively, the published evidence and our experience support TBI as an irreplaceable component of HSCT conditioning and suggest that coupling it with advanced imaging, organ-sparing dosimetry and molecular response monitoring can deliver safer, more personalised therapy in the coming decade.

Details

Title
Total Body Irradiation in Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Institutional Experience from the Policlinico of Catania
Author
Lo Greco Maria Chiara 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Milazzotto Roberto 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Acquaviva Grazia 2 ; Liardo Rocco Luca Emanuele 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Marano Giorgia 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; La Rocca Madalina 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Basile, Antonio 3 ; Foti, Pietro Valerio 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Palmucci Stefano 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Emanuele, David 3 ; Iní Corrado 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Aliotta Lorenzo 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Salamone Vincenzo 5 ; La Monaca Viviana Anna 5 ; Pergolizzi Stefano 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Spatola Corrado 6   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Radiation Oncology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Dental and Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; [email protected] (M.C.L.G.); [email protected] (G.M.); [email protected] (M.L.R.); [email protected] (S.P.) 
 Radiation Oncology Unit, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; [email protected] (G.A.); [email protected] (R.L.E.L.) 
 Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; [email protected] (A.B.); [email protected] (P.V.F.); [email protected] (S.P.); [email protected] (E.D.); [email protected] (C.I.); [email protected] (L.A.), Radiology I Unit, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy 
 Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; [email protected] (A.B.); [email protected] (P.V.F.); [email protected] (S.P.); [email protected] (E.D.); [email protected] (C.I.); [email protected] (L.A.) 
 U.O.S.D. Fisica Sanitaria, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; [email protected] (V.S.); [email protected] (V.A.L.M.) 
 Radiation Oncology Unit, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; [email protected] (G.A.); [email protected] (R.L.E.L.), Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; [email protected] (A.B.); [email protected] (P.V.F.); [email protected] (S.P.); [email protected] (E.D.); [email protected] (C.I.); [email protected] (L.A.) 
First page
1503
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
ISSN
1010660X
e-ISSN
16489144
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3254591839
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Published by MDPI on behalf of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.