Radiation therapy methods

Radiation therapy is currently one of the most useful methods of treating cancerous tumors. However, radiation therapy damages normal tissue surrounding the tumor (U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,712, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). This damage can include fibrosis, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, vascular damage, aberrant angiogenesis, pneumonitis, atherogenesis, osteonecrosis, mucositis, immunosuppression and functional impairment (U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,561, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). As a result of these radiation-induced side effects, techniques have been developed to minimize radiation-induced damage to surrounding normal tissues by limiting radiation to the lowest level effective for cancer treatment. Since there is a direct relationship between the amount of radiation and the effectiveness of the treatment, this method compromises the overall effectiveness of the treatment. The present invention provides methods and kits for mitigating radiation induced tissue damage, improving the effectiveness of radiation therapy, to support bone marrow transplantation, and promoting megakaryocyte production and mobilization and platelet production, each method comprising the administration of an effective amount of angiotensinogen, angiotensin I (AI), AI analogues, AI fragments and analogues thereof, angiotensin II (AII), AII analogues, AII fragments or analogues thereof or AII ATtype 2 receptor agonists.