Abstract
Since uterine cervical cancer is regarded as a radiosensive
tumor, ionizing radiation is the most frequently used
treatment modality against the disease. Although the crucial
end-point is radiation-induced cell death, the tumors are not
equally sensitive to radiation. Determining the criteria that
may be used to predict tumor radiosensitivity is of importance;
however, little success has been achieved thus far. In radioresistant
cases the therapeutic strategy should be changed, thereby
avoiding ineffective or unnecessary treatment. Furthermore,
identification of the underlying molecular processes leading to
radioresistance may lead to novel radiosensitising strategies.
Cervical smears were obtained from seven patients with locally
advanced cervical cancer following each radiotherapy, and the
radiation-induced damage of cancer tissue was examined by
routine cytology. Since the formation of DNA double-strand
breaks is considered critical for the cytocidal effect of
radiation therapy, the molecular changes of the neoplastic
cells were also assessed by laser scanning cytometry (LSC).
Radiation-induced morphological changes of cancer cells were
evident at a dose of 7.2 Gy, whereas increased DNA content (or
DNA index) was observed prior to the onset of morphological
changes. Molecular change was detected earlier than the
morphological change of the irradiated cancer cells, indicating
the feasibility of LSC in predicting the radiosensitivity of
cervical cancer tissue.
tumor, ionizing radiation is the most frequently used
treatment modality against the disease. Although the crucial
end-point is radiation-induced cell death, the tumors are not
equally sensitive to radiation. Determining the criteria that
may be used to predict tumor radiosensitivity is of importance;
however, little success has been achieved thus far. In radioresistant
cases the therapeutic strategy should be changed, thereby
avoiding ineffective or unnecessary treatment. Furthermore,
identification of the underlying molecular processes leading to
radioresistance may lead to novel radiosensitising strategies.
Cervical smears were obtained from seven patients with locally
advanced cervical cancer following each radiotherapy, and the
radiation-induced damage of cancer tissue was examined by
routine cytology. Since the formation of DNA double-strand
breaks is considered critical for the cytocidal effect of
radiation therapy, the molecular changes of the neoplastic
cells were also assessed by laser scanning cytometry (LSC).
Radiation-induced morphological changes of cancer cells were
evident at a dose of 7.2 Gy, whereas increased DNA content (or
DNA index) was observed prior to the onset of morphological
changes. Molecular change was detected earlier than the
morphological change of the irradiated cancer cells, indicating
the feasibility of LSC in predicting the radiosensitivity of
cervical cancer tissue.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 51 |
| Number of pages | 54 |
| Journal | Molecular and Clinical Oncology |
| Volume | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
