Caffeine Ameliorates Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions in Mice but Does Not Influence Tumor Radiation Response

The study demonstrated that intramuscular administration of caffeine at 80 mg/kg body weight to Swiss mice before local irradiation delayed radiation-induced skin reactions, resulting in only partial hair loss and slight reddening compared to significant epilation and reddening in mice treated with radiation alone. By the 40th day post-irradiation, skin damage had disappeared in both groups. However, caffeine did not influence the radiation response of mouse fibrosarcoma tumors, suggesting that while caffeine could mitigate skin damage from radiation, it did not affect tumor treatment outcomes, indicating its potential use in cancer radiotherapy to protect skin without altering tumor response.