Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) as a pro-fibrotic and pro-oncogenic factor: a pivotal target to improve the radiotherapy therapeutic index

Radiation-induced fibrosis is widely considered as a common but forsaken phenomenon that can lead to clinical sequela and possibly vital impairments. Lysophosphatidic acid is a bioactive lipid involved in fibrosis and probably in radiation-induced fibrosis as suggested in recent studies. Lysophosphatidic acid is also a well-described pro-oncogenic factor, involved in carcinogenesis processes (proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, invasion, migration). The present review highlights and summarizes the links between lysophosphatidic acid and radiation-induced fibrosis, lysophosphatidic acid and radioresistance, and proposes lysophosphatidic acid as a potential central actor of the radiotherapy therapeutic index. Besides, we hypothesize that following radiotherapy, the newly formed tumour micro-environment, with increased extracellular matrix and increased lysophosphatidic acid levels, is a favourable ground to metastasis development. Lysophosphatidic acid could therefore be an exciting therapeutic target, minimizing radio-toxicities and radio-resistance effects.