Total Body Irradiation in Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Institutional Experience from the Policlinico of Catania

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.