Biomarkers for enhancing the radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common head and neck malignancy. The incidence of NPC is higher in Southern China and Southeast Asia compared with Western countries. Given its high radiosensitivity, the standard treatment for NPC is radiotherapy. However, radioresistance remains a serious obstacle to successful treatment. Radioresistance can cause local recurrence and distant metastases in some patients after treatment by radiation. Thus, special emphasis has been given to the discovery of effective radiosensitizers. This review aims to discuss the biomarkers, classified according to the main mechanisms of radiosensitization, which can enhance the sensitivity of NPC cells to ionizing radiation.