Early radiation effects in highly apoptotic murine lymphoma xenografts monitored by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Purpose: Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectra (³¹P-MRS) were obtained from highly apoptotic murine lymphoma xenografts before and up to 24 hr following graded doses of radiation ranging from 2 to 30 Gy. Radiation-induced apoptosis was also estimated up to 24 hr by scoring apoptotic cells in tumor tissue.Methods and Materials: Highly apoptotic murine lymphoma cells, EL4, were subcutaneously transplanted into C57/BL mice. At 7 days after transplantation, radiation was given to the tumor with a single dose at 3, 10, and 30 Gy. The β-ATP/Pi, PME/Pi, and β-ATP/PME values were calculated from the peak area of each spectrum. Radiation-induced apoptosis was scored with counting apoptotic cells on hematoxylin and eosin stained specimens (%apoptosis).Results: The values of % apoptosis 4, 8, and 24 hr after radiation were 21.8, 19.6, and 4.6% at 3 Gy, 35.1, 25.6, and 14.8% at 10 Gy, 38.4, 38.0, and 30.6% at 30 Gy, respectively (cf. 4.4% in control). There was no correlation between early change in β-ATP/Pi and % apoptosis at 4 hr after radiation when most of the apoptosis occurred. An early decrease in PME/Pi was observed at 4 hr after radiation dose at 30 Gy. For each dose, the values of β-ATP/Pi 24 hr after radiation were inversely related to radiation dose.Conclusion: The increase in β-ATP/Pi observed by ³¹P-MRS was linked to the degree of histological recovery from radiation-induced apoptosis.     

Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy and blood perfusion of the RIF-1 tumor following X-irradiation

Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectra were obtained from the RIF-1 tumor in C3H mice before and up to 2 days after various doses of X rays. Parallel studies were performed to measure relative changes in tumor blood perfusion using [14C]iodo-antipyrine and changes in % tumor necrosis using Chalkley's method. Tumor ratios of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate (PCr/Pi) and nucleotide triphosphates to inorganic phosphate (NTP/Pi) as well as pH as measured by 31P-MRS increased significantly at most time points after irradiation with doses of 5, 10, and 20 Gy. Tumor blood perfusion was found to significantly improve after a dose of 20 Gy but not after a dose of 2 Gy. Percent tumor necrosis increased to about 3 times its control level at 1 day after a dose of 20 Gy and then declined to about twice its control value at 2 days. The magnitude of the changes in the 31P-MRS parameters makes it unlikely that any of them are entirely due to radiation-induced changes in the radiobiologically hypoxic fraction of these tumors. Changes in the necrotic fraction did not appear to influence the tumor spectra. However, the observed improvement in tumor blood perfusion may have resulted in an increase in oxidative phosphorylation of the whole tumor population as well as a clearance of inorganic phosphate and acid metabolites, so that 31P-MRS changes may indirectly reflect changes in tumor blood perfusion.     

Asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) regulates myocardial apoptosis in response to radiation exposure via alterations in NRF2 activation

Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) leads to myocardial dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities in patients treated with thoracic irradiation which restricts the long-term survival benefits of radiotherapy. There is no specific or effective manner of intervention currently available. Asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of cellular functions through regulating proteolytic cleavage as peptidase enzyme. We aimed to investigate the role of unique cardiac AEP in cardiac function by modulating key signaling elements in the myocardium. The murine heart was exposed to a single dose of 14 Gy radiation. Cellular signaling and apoptosis was analyzed in human and rat cardiomyocytes treated with various doses of radiation, we observed expression of AEP was increased by immunohistochemical staining in murine heart exposed to radiation. The AEP production along with its increased level of mRNA expression was associated with increased doses of radiation (0, 2, 5, 10 Gy) in cardiomyocytes. The myocardial cells transfected with AEP overexpression showed overall cellular viability enhancement, DNA damage inhibition, the foci formation of γ-H2AX suppressed and DNA repair enhancement significantly after radiation exposure. Small interfering RNA-mediated AEP knockdown was with reduced cardiomyocyte viability, elevated apoptotic rate, increased γ-H2AX foci formation and inhibited DNA repair as well after irradiation. After radiation exposure of 10 Gy, the expression of AEP increased in P53 overexpressing cardiomyocytes and decreased in the P53 knockdown cells, indicates that radiation-induced expression of AEP might be regulated by P53. Moreover, treatments with either AEP overexpression or knockdown showed enhanced NRF2 activity in the nuclear or suppressed NRF2 expression in the cytoplasm of myocardial cells after irradiation, respectively, defined a possible regulatory effect of AEP associated with diminished NRF2 translocation and activation by radiation exposure, including impair myocardium and myocardial apoptosis. These findings suggest that increased levels of AEP in failing myocardium after irradiation is mediated by P53 and regulate a novel pathway that involves NRF2 activation. AEP is essential for maintaining cellular redox homeostasis of cardiac function.     

Changes in Brain Energy and Membrane Metabolism in Glioblastoma following Chemoradiation

Brain parenchyma infiltration with glioblastoma (GB) cannot be entirely visualized by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the energy and membrane metabolism measured with phosphorous MR spectroscopy (31P-MRS) in the presumably “normal-appearing” brain following chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in GB patients in comparison to healthy controls. Twenty (seven female, thirteen male) GB patients underwent a 31P-MRS scan prior to surgery (baseline) and after three months of standard CRT (follow-up examination. The regions of interest “contrast-enhancing (CE) tumor” (if present), “adjacent to the (former) tumor”, “ipsilateral distant” hemisphere, and “contralateral” hemisphere were compared, differentiating between patients with stable (SD) and progressive disease (PD). Metabolite ratios PCr/ATP, Pi/ATP, PCr/Pi, PME/PDE, PME/PCr, and PDE/ATP were investigated. In PD, energy and membrane metabolism in CE tumor areas have a tendency to “normalize” under therapy. In different “normal-appearing” brain areas of GB patients, the energy and membrane metabolism either “normalized” or were “disturbed”, in comparison to baseline or controls. Differences were also detected between patients with SD and PD. 31P-MRS might contribute as an additional imaging biomarker for outcome measurement, which remains to be investigated in a larger cohort.     

Combined Hyperthermia and Radiation Therapy for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: There is no doubt that hyperthermia is one of the powerful radiosensitizers. Finding a proper mechanismworking in hyperthermia/radiation combination is still pronounced challenge. Objectives: This study is focusing onthe anti-cancer activities (anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic and antiapoptotic) of thermoradiotherapy. Materials andMethods: Liver cancer cell line (HepG2) was treated by 37oC, 40oC and 43oC hyperthermia degrees combined withthree radiation doses (2 Gy, 4 Gy and 8 Gy) for 24, 48 and 72 hrs. Cell viability, apoptotic/necrotic cell screening,apoptotic (BAX and FasL) and antiapoptotic (BCL-2 and GRP78) genes, and pro-angiogenic mediators [vascularendothelial- (VEGF) and Platelet derived-growth factors (PDGF) ware investigated. Results: Our data showed that 40oCtemperature combined with 4 Gy radiation gives a significant decrease (p<0.05) in cell viability. Maximum cytotoxicitywas reported 48 hr post-treatment followed by slight restoration of cell viability after 72 hr. Compared with untreatedcells, only 5% of viable cells with a high percentage of apoptotic (31%) and necrotic (63%) cells were demonstratedin 40oC/4 Gy/48 hr group. Expression of pro-apoptotic genes (BAX and FasL) were increased after hyperthermia withapparent elevation in 40oC/4 Gy/48 hr group coincides with moderate expression of antiapoptotic BCL-2 and GRP78genes. A significant reduction (p<0.001; p<0.05) in VEGF and PDGF levels; respectively was shown at 40oC/4 Gy/48hr group. Conclusions: This pilot study proposed 40oC mild temperature hyperthermia as a favorable hyperthermalcondition with 4 Gy radiotherapy in HCC treatment. A further research has to be performed considering an applicationof more than one session of radiothermal therapy at 40oC/4 Gy for total abrogation of cancer cells.     

Quantitative changes in tumor metabolism, partial pressure of oxygen, and radiobiological oxygenation status postradiation.

Hypoxia is considered to be a major cause of tumor radioresistance. Reoxygenation of previously hypoxic areas after a priming dose of radiation is associated with an increase in tumor radiosensitivity. In a study of a hypoxic mammary carcinoma, 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra showed statistically significant increases in metabolite ratios (phosphocreatine/Pi and nucleotide triphosphate/Pi) after 65 and 32 Gy. The maximum changes in metabolite ratios after 32 Gy occurred at 48 h, although significant changes were detected at 24 h. A corresponding increase in the mean tumor pO2 (polarographic microelectrode measurements) and a decrease in hypoxic cell fraction [changes in paired (clamped versus unclamped) tumor control dose for 50% of tumors] were also shown to occur 48 h after a priming dose of 32 Gy. A significant increase in the mean tumor pO2, phosphocreatine/Pi, and nucleotide triphosphate/Pi, compared to initial values, was noted at 24, 48, and 96 h post 65-Gy radiation. An increase in the downfield component of the phosphomonoester peak relative to the upfield component (phosphoethanolamine), is also noted after doses of 65 and 32 Gy. These are likely to be due to cell kill and/or decreased cell proliferation. In this tumor model, 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic changes postradiation are temporally coincident with and may be indicative of tumor reoxygenation as measured by the tumor control dose for 50% of tumors and oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes.     

In vivo99mTc-HYNIC-annexin V imaging of early tumor apoptosis in mice after single dose irradiation

Background

Apoptosis is a major mode of hematological tumor death after radiation. Early detection of apoptosis may be beneficial for cancer adaptive treatment. ^99mTc-HYNIC-annexinV has been reported as a promising agent for in vivo apoptosis imaging. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of in vivo^99mTc-HYNIC-annexinV imaging of radiation- induced apoptosis, and to investigate its correlation with radiosensitivity.

Methods

Ten days after inoculation of tumor cells in the right upper limbs, the mice were randomly divided into two groups. The imaging group (4 mice each level, 4 dose levels) was injected with 4-8 MBq ^99mTc-HYNIC-annexinV 24 hours after irradiation and imaged 1 hr post-injection, and the mice were sacrificed immediately after imaging for biodistribution analysis of annexin V. The observation group (4 mice each level, 2 dose levels) was only observed for tumor regression post-radiation. The number of apoptotic cells in a tumor was estimated with TUNEL assay.

Results

The ^99mTc-HYNIC-annexin V uptake in E14 lymphoma significantly increased as the radiation dose escalated from 0 to 8 Gy, and significantly correlated with the number of TUNEL-positive cells (r = 0.892, P < 0.001). The Annexin-V uptake and the number of TUNEL-positive cells in El4 lymphoma were significantly greater than those in S180 sarcoma. With 8 Gy, S180 sarcoma tumor showed scanty apoptosis and less shrinkage while El4 lymphoma showed remarkable apoptosis and complete remission.

Conclusion

⁹⁹mTc-HYNIC-annexinV in vivo imaging is a feasible method to detect early radiation-induced apoptosis in different tumors, and might be predictive for radiation sensitivity.     

Radiation-induced apoptosis in human ovarian carcinoma cells growing as a monolayer and as multicell spheroids

Response to external gamma irradiation was studied in a human ovarian carcinoma cell line (OVCAR 3) growing as a monolayer and as multicell spheroids. Necrosis and apoptosis were documented using Trypan-blue uptake and acridine-orange staining, respectively, and apoptosis was quantified using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assay. Exposure of OVCAR 3 cells growing as a monolayer to ¹³⁷Cs gamma radiation at a dose of 10 Gy produced 30–40% apoptosis 72 hr after irradiation. Cell-cycle analysis of irradiated cells showed an accumulation of cells in G₂/M phase 24 hr after irradiation and then a decline at 48 hr in conjunction with apoptosis onset. The loss of G₀/G₁ cells in irradiated cultures suggested a preferential entry into apoptosis. No increase in apoptotic cell number was observed in OVCAR 3 spheroids after irradiation, and the cells probably died as a result of necrosis. When spheroids were disrupted immediately after irradiation to obtain a cell suspension, minor apoptosis was observed in association with a marked increase in TB-positive cell number after 96 hr of incubation following irradiation. Thus, a relationship was found between radiation-induced apoptosis and the cell cycle. Results with spheroids suggested the possible involvement of cell-to-cell interactions in apoptosis regulation. Int. J. Cancer 72:851–859, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The early supra-additive apoptotic response of R3327-G prostate tumors to androgen ablation and radiation is not sustained with multiple fractions

PURPOSE: The treatment of R3327-G tumor-bearing rats with androgen ablation (AA) via castration results in a supra-additive increase in apoptosis when 2-8 Gy gamma-irradiation (RT) is given as a single dose 3-14 days afterwards. We report here the dose response and effect of multiple fractions on this supra-additive apoptotic response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dunning R3327-G tumors were grown in the flanks of Copenhagen rats and the experiments were initiated at a tumor volume of 1.0-1.5 cc. Androgen ablation was achieved by castration 3 days prior to gamma-irradiation. Apoptosis was measured with a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling assay 6-h after RT, unless otherwise specified. RESULTS: The dose response of the supra-additive apoptotic response was assessed by irradiating castrated animals with single doses of 2, 4, 8, or 16 Gy (n = 5 per group); tumor cell apoptosis at 6-h following irradiation was 2.4%+/-0.7% (+/- SEM), 4.2%+/-0.8%, 6.5%+/-1.4%, and 1.6%+/-0.3%, respectively. The RT only and AA only controls had < 1% apoptosis. The effect of fractionated RT on apoptosis was investigated to determine if the supra-additive apoptotic response was sustained with repeated 2-8 Gy fractions. When tumor-bearing animals were treated with repeated daily 2-Gy fractions, there was a reduction in the level of the supra-additive apoptotic response. After five 2-Gy fractions at 24-h intervals, apoptosis in the combined treated tumors was at levels seen in the AA controls. This raised the possibility that more than 24 h are required for recovery of the high supra-additive apoptotic levels seen after one fraction. When the interfraction interval was extended to 96 h, there was no significant increase in apoptosis over the additive effect of AA and RT. Although there was a decline in supra-additive apoptosis with repeated fractions, a dose response for tumor growth delay was evident for RT alone using 2.5-Gy fractions. Moreover, the combination of AA + fractionated RT resulted in a supra-additive enhancement in tumor growth delay to 5 cc. CONCLUSION: The early supra-additive apoptotic response from AA and single fraction radiation is not seen at high single fraction doses and is not sustained with repeated fractions. Therefore, the classical apoptotic response that occurs within 24 h of irradiation is not likely to be the main mechanism responsible for any clinical benefit seen with this combination.     

The bioreductive agent RH1 and gamma-irradiation both cause G2/M cell cycle phase arrest and polyploidy in a p53-mutated human breast cancer cell line

PURPOSE: RH1 is a newly developed bioreductive agent, and its bioactivation is mediated by the enzyme DT-diaphorase (DTD). We have shown previously that RH1 is highly cytotoxic against cells expressing high DTD, using the p53-mutated MDA231 human breast cancer cell line transfected with the DTD gene (D7 cells). We now report that both RH1 and gamma-irradiation cause D7 cells to arrest in the G2/M cell cycle phase and undergo polyploidy. The latter is a way of p53-mutated cells responding to DNA-damaging agents. Only a small proportion of the polyploid cells are clonogenic, hence polyploidy may contribute to the reproductive failure of the cells after RH1 and irradiation. Thus, we investigated the effect of RH1 and gamma-irradiation on the formation of polyploid cells and a sub-G1 population (as a measure of apoptosis) in relation to the G2/M cell cycle block. METHODS AND MATERIALS: MDA231 D7 cells were treated using a range of RH1 doses. The cells were irradiated using 2 Gy or 5 Gy gamma-rays either as a single dose or in combination with RH1. An IC(90) dose (dose to kill 90% of the cells) of RH1 was administered for 3 h followed by irradiation after a further 24 h. Subsequent changes in cell cycle and polyploidy (DNA content in excess of that of G2/M cells) were examined. RESULTS: Treatment of D7 cells with the RH1 resulted in 60-70% of cells arrested in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle by 24 h, which decreased to control levels by 48 h. Irradiation with 2 Gy and 5 Gy caused a similar G2/M block at 12-24 h, which was followed by a sharp decline at 24-48 h. In contrast, the same dose of radiation combined with RH1 held the cells in the G2/M phase up to 48 h, and this pattern reached pretreatment levels at 72-96 h. Most control cells were found to contain a small number of spontaneously arising polyploid cells. The development of polyploid cells was evident from 12 h after all treatments and showed a significant increase at 48 h and subsequently. As opposed to this, apoptosis measured by the sub-G1 cell population in DNA analyses showed a tendency to increase according to the elapsed time for each group of treatments. Single treatments with RH1 caused a significant increase in the apoptotic population between 48 and 120 h. The first significant increase in apoptosis was observed at 48 h for 5 Gy, 2 Gy + RH1, and 5 Gy + RH1 treatments, and showed a tendency to increase further at later times, but the 2 Gy dose gave an earlier apoptotic peak at 24 h, which decreased to 96 h. The addition of RH1 to the irradiation did not increase the formation of polyploid cells or apoptosis compared with radiation alone (2 Gy vs. RH1 + 2 Gy or 5 Gy vs. RH1 + 5 Gy). The higher dose of irradiation (5 Gy vs. 2 Gy) resulted in a significantly higher proportion of polyploid cells (but not of apoptotic cells) when used alone or in combination (5 Gy + RH1 vs. 2 Gy + RH1). CONCLUSIONS: Both RH1 and gamma-irradiation, individually and in combination, showed a significant G2/M block in MDA231 D7 breast cancer cells. The formation of polyploid cells was dependent more on the radiation dose rather than on the pretreatment with RH1. The polyploid cell population was observed after the G2/M cell cycle phase arrest, and it preceded the late increase of the apoptotic cell population. The role of polyploidy in cell reproductive failure in the total cell population is not known, but it appears to contribute to cytotoxicity in cells released from the G2/M cell cycle phase block.     

Effects of dna-dependent protein kinase inhibition by NU7026 on dna repair and cell survival in irradiated gastric cancer cell line N87

Repair of radiation-induced dna double-strand breaks is a key mechanism in cancer cell radio-resistance. The synthesized compound NU7026 specifically inhibits dna-dependent protein kinase (dna-pk) within the non-homologous end-joining repair mechanism. Earlier studies demonstrated increased radiosensitivity in dna-pk deficient cells compared with wild-type cells. In chronic leukemia cells, NU7026 appears to enhance the cytotoxic effect of chlorambucil. The radio-modifying effects of NU7026 on cell survival, cell cycle, apoptosis, and dna double-strand break repair have yet to be studied in gastric cancer cells.

Methods

The gastric cancer cell line N87 was treated with 0 Gy or 4 Gy in the presence of NU7026 at a dose range of 0–20 μmol/L. Clonogenic assays were used to assess cell survival after treatment. Cell-cycle distribution was analyzed using propidium iodide with fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Apoptosis was detected using annexin-V and propidium iodide with fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The γH2AX assay was used to measure dna double-strand breaks.

Results

Statistically significant increases in G2/M arrest were observed in N87 cells treated with radiation and NU7026 compared with those treated with radiation alone (p = 0.0004). Combined treatment also led to an increase in apoptosis (p = 0.01). At 24 hours, the γH2AX analysis revealed more dna double-strand breaks in N87 cells treated with radiation and NU7026 than in those treated with radiation alone (p = 0.04). Clonogenic assays demonstrated declining cell survival as both the radiation and the NU7026 dose increased. The dose enhancement factor at 0.1 survival fraction was 1.28 when N87 cells were treated with 4 Gy radiation and 5 μmol/L NU7026.

Conclusions

In gastric cancer cells, NU7026 appears to enhance the cytotoxic effect of irradiation as assessed by clonogenic assays. This increased cytotoxicity might be the result of an increase in dna double-strand breaks resulting in G2/M cell arrest and possibly higher levels of apoptosis.     

Radiation-induced apoptosis in human sarcoma and glioma cell lines

Six human soft-tissue sarcoma and 14 glioma cell lines, exhibiting considerable differences in radioresponsiveness and histological grade of differentiation of the parental tumour, were examined with respect to apoptosis development after irradiation with ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. After test doses of 6 and 25 Gy, significant changes characteristic of apoptosis occurring within 6 to 30 hr were exhibited by only 2 differentiated sarcoma cell lines, EL7 and ESS2. The characteristic intemucleosomal fragmentation of DNA was detected as early as 6 hr after exposure of subconfluent monolayer cultures to 6 Gy. It was limited to cells that had detached from the culture plate, whereas adherent cells showed random degradation of DNA, namely after higher doses (25Gy) or longer incubation times (30 hr). As assessed by fluorescence microscopy of unfixed cultures stained with Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide, the proportion of cells showing apoptotic bodies in non-irradiated controls was < 0.l% and 0.3% for EL7 and ESS2, respectively. The doseresponse relationship for apoptosis was determined at 9 hr post-irradiation. After 2 Gy, the percentage of apoptotic cells was elevated to 3.4% in EL7 and 4.5% in ESS2 cultures. Saturation was obtained above 6 Gy, with 8.4% apoptosis in EL7 and 15% in ESS2 after 25 Gy. Taken together, rapid ionizing-radiation-induced apoptosis seems to be limited to a subgroup of sarcomas and is unlikely to occur in gliomas. © 1995 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting ATM strengthen apoptosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma grown in nude mice

Background

To conserve laryngeal function and elevate living quality of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients, we designed antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) to reduce expression of ATM and to enhance the apoptosis of hep-2 (Human epidermoid laryngeal carcinoma) cells to radiation in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

The expression of ATM mRNA and protein in hep-2 cells were examined by real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting respectively. Clonogenic survival assay was carried out to detect the survival ability of hep-2 cells after irradiation, and analyzed the cell apoptosis by flow cytometry. The volume of solid tumors was measured, while TUNEL assay and western blotting used to analyze cell apoptosis and protein expression after irradiation.

Results

The relative ATM mRNA and protein expression in hep-2 cells treated with ATM AS-ODNs were decreased to 11.03 ± 2.51% and 48.14 ± 5.53% of that in untreated cells respectively (P <0.05). After irradiation, the survival fraction (SF) of cells treated with ATM AS-ODNs was lower than that of other groups at the same dose of radiation (P < 0.05). The inhibition rate in hep-2 cells solid tumor exposed to X-ray alone was 5.95 ± 4.52%, while it was 34.28 ± 2.43% in the group which irradiated in combination with the treatment of ATM AS-ODNs (P < 0.05). The apoptotic index for the group irradiated in combination with ATM AS-ODNs injection was 17.12 ± 4.2%, which was significantly higher than that of others (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

AS-ODNs of ATM reduce ATM expression and enhance hep-2 cells apoptosis to radiation in vitro and in vivo.     

The potential advantages of FDG PET/CT-based target volume delineation in radiotherapy planning of head and neck cancer

Purpose

This study investigated two fixed threshold methods to delineate the target volume using ¹⁸FDG PET/CT before and during a course of radical radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Materials and methods

Patients were enrolled into the study between March 2006 and May 2008. ¹⁸FDG PET/CT scans were carried out 72 h prior to the start of radiotherapy and then at 10, 44 and 66 Gy. Functional volumes were delineated according to the SUV Cut Off (SUVCO) (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 bwg/ml) and percentage of the SUVmax (30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50%) thresholds. The background ¹⁸FDG uptake and the SUVmax within the volumes were also assessed.

Results

Primary and lymph node volumes for the eight patients significantly reduced with each increase in the delineation threshold (for example 2.5-3.0 bwg/ml SUVCO) compared to the baseline threshold at each imaging point. There was a significant reduction in the volume (p ? 0.0001-0.01) after 36 Gy compared to the 0 Gy by the SUVCO method. There was a negative correlation between the SUVmax within the primary and lymph node volumes and delivered radiation dose (p ? 0.0001-0.011) but no difference in the SUV within the background reference region. The volumes delineated by the PTSUVmax method increased with the increase in the delivered radiation dose after 36 Gy because the SUVmax within the region of interest used to define the edge of the volume was equal or less than the background ¹⁸FDG uptake and the software was unable to effectively differentiate between tumour and background uptake.

Conclusions

The changes in the target volumes delineated by the SUVCO method were less susceptible to background ¹⁸FDG uptake compared to those delineated by the PTSUVmax and may be more helpful in radiotherapy planning. The best method and threshold have still to be determined within institutions, both nationally and internationally.     

人肝癌细胞BEL-7402非常规照射模式生物效应探讨

目的 探讨不同照射模式对人肝癌细胞株BEL-7402生物效应变化影响及其与人肝细胞株QSG-7701放射敏感度差异。方法 6MV X线两种模式照射BEL-7402细胞(包括0、1、2、3、5、7、9、10Gy共8个吸收剂量点,剂量率3Gy/min)：(1)急速照射组,照射完成时间0~4min;(2)模拟三维适形照射组：照射完成时间：12~15min。成克隆分析法计算存活分数,多靶单击数学模型拟合曲线,求出SF2、D0、Dq等参数值;6MV X线单次5Gy照射体外培养的BEL-7402、QSG-7701 细胞, 采用MTT 比色法、流式细胞术测定细胞受照后不同时间存活率、凋亡率、细胞周期。结果 BEL-7402细胞模拟急速照射组和三维适形照射组D0、Dq、SF2值分别为1.78和1.69、1.45和1.54、0.625和0.654;QSG-7701 细胞照后24 h 凋亡率最高(18 %),而BEL-7402细胞照后12h凋亡率最高(32 %),存活率最低(65%),两株细胞照后12 h 凋亡率和存活率差异最大（P<0.01）。结论 三维适形照射模式下分次照射时间延长,生物效应下降;BEL-7402及QSG-7701两株细胞在照后存在放射敏感度差异。     

单次照射胰腺癌细胞后放射损伤的初步观察*

目的:初步探讨单次照射胰腺癌细胞后,细胞的放射损伤状况。方法:采用不同单次剂量X 射线（0、2、5、10、17Gy）对胰腺癌细胞系MIA PaCa-2 照射,培养24h 后观察形态学变化;放射后即刻行“彗星”分析;放射后6h 和12h 分别行DNA ladder 检测;放射后0、6、12、24、36h 行流式细胞术检测。结果:X 射线照射后MIA PaCa-2 胰腺癌细胞随剂量增加表现坏死明显,形态学改变以肿胀为基础;在低剂量组,以X 射线照射MIA PaCa-2 胰腺癌细胞可建立理想的由射线诱导的、呈剂量依赖性的细胞凋亡与坏死模型,引起G2/M期阻滞,符合传统放射生物学概念;单次高剂量照射后细胞凋亡峰值出现早而明显;不同单次剂量X 线照射后、量化细胞DNA损伤呈剂量依赖性,以10Gy最明显,17Gy反而减轻;随着放射剂量的增加,从单一的DNA电泳带,到出现多条典型的梯状图谱,以10Gy最明显。随着剂量进一步增加,出现模糊的无规律电泳梯带。结论:单次大剂量放射所致细胞损伤不同于常规剂量模式,可能以胀亡为主要细胞死亡方式。      

Effects of hydralazine on in vivo tumor energy metabolism, hematopoietic radiation sensitivity, and cardiovascular parameters

Energy metabolism of murine FSaII foot tumors was studied by in vivo 31P-MRS in C3Hf/Sed mice. Spectroscopy was performed following exposure to escalating doses of hydralazine (HYD) ip. At 0.25 mg/kg, HYD caused a 20% increase in PCr/Pi and had no significant effect on mean arterial blood pressure. HYD doses greater than or equal to 2 mg/kg lead to hypotension which was associated with a decrease in PCr, NTP, pH, and an increase in Pi (p less than 0.01 for control vs 10 mg/kg HYD). When mice were given ip injections of HYD (0.25, 1, 2 and 10 mg/kg) 10 min prior to whole body irradiation, spleen stem cell survival after 6 Gy was increased (2.19 colonies in control animals vs 6.74 colonies per spleen in animals treated with greater than or equal to 2 mg/kg HYD), as was the LD50/30 dose (6.49 Gy [control] vs 9.00 Gy [10 mg/kg HYD]). The data provide evidence that PCr/Pi is a useful indicator of perfusion efficiency (and indirectly of hypoxic cell fraction) in FSaII tumors. These observations suggest that HYD may be a useful adjuvant for hyperthermic treatment of tumors and for potentiation of agents specifically toxic to hypoxic or nutrient-deprived cancer cells. HYD should be used with care in patients receiving radiation treatments or other therapies for which hypoxia can unfavorably affect treatment outcome.     

Initial Approach to the Cellular Irradiation Injury of Human Pancreatic Carcinoma Cell Line MIA PaCa-2 by High Dose per Fraction

OBJECTIVE To investigate an initial approach of radiotherapy,which produces cellular radiation injury by high dose in one fraction.METHODS Human pancreatic carcinoma cell line MIA PaCa-2,was cultivated and divided into 5 groups: 0, 2, 5, 10, 17 Gy.Cultivated cells were irradiated by 6MV-X ray in one fraction.Analysis were done as follows: comet assay, which assessed the level of DNA damage in the treated cells right after the cell was irradiated, flow cytometry, which was performed at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36h after the cell line treated to asses changes of its cell cycle, DNA ladder, which quantitatively assessed the degree of DNA injury after 6 and 12 h, and histological examination, which analyzed cellular morphology after 24 h.RESULTS (1) After X-ray irradiated, the morphological change of human pancreatic carcinoma cell line (MIA PaCa-2) was mainly swelling. (2) When the dose of radiation was lower than 10 Gy,increasing the dose could greatly improve cell necrosis, apoptosis and blockage of cell cycle in G2/M phase, which was consistent with the theory of radiation biology. (3) When radiation dose was more than the 10 Gy, the peak of apoptotic necrosis appeared strong and early. (4) The degree of DNA injury was also related to the dose of radiation therapy and most obvious in the 10 Gy group and not so obvious in the 17 Gy group. (5) When dose was less than 10 Gy, DNA ladder was a single electrophoretic band; in the 10 Gy group, the electrophoresis showed a multiple ladder band;when dose was more than 10 Gy, a vague and irregular band appeared on the electrophoresis.CONCLUSION Oncotic necrosis may be the main cell death style when dose per fraction is high, which differs from conventional dose fraction radiation therapy.     

骨和软组织肿瘤的3.0T磁共振磷谱变化研究

目的 探讨骨和软组织肿瘤磁共振磷谱(31P-MRS)的变化特点.方法 对41例经病理证实的骨和软组织肿瘤患者的18个良性肿瘤病灶、28个恶性肿瘤病灶及其相邻部位正常肌肉组织,应用3.0T MR机进行31P-MRS分析,测量波谱中磷酸单酯(PME)、无机磷(Pi)、磷酸二酯(PDE)、磷酸肌酸(Pcr)、三磷酸腺苷γ-峰(γ-ATP)、α-峰(α-ATP)和β-峰(β-ATP)的峰下面积.分别以β-ATP、三磷酸核苷(NTP)和Pcr为参照,计算各代谢产物的相对比值.根据Pi相对于Pcr化学位移的变化计算细胞内pH值.结果 良、恶性肿瘤组中Pcr/PME、PME/NTP与正常对照组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).良、恶性肿瘤组中PME/β-ATP与PME/NTP比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 Pcr/PME和PME/NTP是诊断骨和软组织肿瘤的潜在指标,PME/β-ATP和PME/NTP是鉴别骨和软组织肿瘤良、恶性的潜在指标.