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Durante M. Kaplan lecture 2023: lymphopenia in particle therapy. Int J Radiat Biol 2024; 100:669-677. [PMID: 38442137 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2024.2324472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Lymphopenia is now generally recognized as a negative prognostic factor in radiotherapy. Already at the beginning of the century we demonstrated that high-energy carbon ions induce less damage to the lymphocytes of radiotherapy patients than X-rays, even if heavy ions are more effective per unit dose in the induction of chromosomal aberrations in blood cells irradiated ex-vivo. The explanation was based on the volume effect, i.e. the sparing of larger volumes of normal tissue in Bragg peak therapy. Here we will review the current knowledge about the difference in lymphopenia between particle and photon therapy and the consequences. CONCLUSIONS There is nowadays an overwhelming evidence that particle therapy reduces significantly the radiotherapy-induced lymphopenia in several tumor sites. Because lymphopenia turns down the immune response to checkpoint inhibitors, it can be predicted that particle therapy may be the ideal partner for combined radiation and immunotherapy treatment and should be selected for patients where severe lymphopenia is expected after X-rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Durante
- Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany
- Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
- Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
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2
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Paganetti H. A review on lymphocyte radiosensitivity and its impact on radiotherapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1201500. [PMID: 37601664 PMCID: PMC10435323 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1201500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that radiation therapy causes lymphopenia in patients and that this is correlated with a negative outcome. The mechanism is not well understood because radiation can have both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects. How tumor dose conformation, dose fractionation, and selective lymph node irradiation in radiation therapy does affect lymphopenia and immune response is an active area of research. In addition, understanding the impact of radiation on the immune system is important for the design and interpretation of clinical trials combining radiation with immune checkpoint inhibitors, both in terms of radiation dose and treatment schedules. Although only a few percent of the total lymphocyte population are circulating, it has been speculated that their increased radiosensitivity may contribute to, or even be the primary cause of, lymphopenia. This review summarizes published data on lymphocyte radiosensitivity based on human, small animal, and in vitro studies. The data indicate differences in radiosensitivity among lymphocyte subpopulations that affect their relative contribution and thus the dynamics of the immune response. In general, B cells appear to be more radiosensitive than T cells and NK cells appear to be the most resistant. However, the reported dose-response data suggest that in the context of lymphopenia in patients, aspects other than cell death must also be considered. Not only absolute lymphocyte counts, but also lymphocyte diversity and activity are likely to be affected by radiation. Taken together, the reviewed data suggest that it is unlikely that radiation-induced cell death in lymphocytes is the sole factor in radiation-induced lymphopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Paganetti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, United States
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3
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Cavalieri S, Vitolo V, Barcellini A, Ronchi S, Facoetti A, Campo C, Klersy C, Molinelli S, Agustoni F, Ferretti VV, Silvestri AD, Platania M, Del Vecchio M, Durante M, Helm A, Fournier C, Braud FD, Pedrazzoli P, Orlandi E, Licitra L. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and Carbon iON radiotherapy In solid Cancers with stable disease (ICONIC). Future Oncol 2023; 19:193-203. [PMID: 36974574 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2022-0503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
ICONIC is a multicenter, open-label, nonrandomized phase II clinical trial aiming to assess the feasibility and clinical activity of the addition of carbon ion radiotherapy to immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients who have obtained disease stability with pembrolizumab administered as per standard-of-care. The primary end point is objective response rate, and the secondary end points are safety, survival and disease control rate. Translational research is an exploratory aim. The planned sample size is 27 patients. The study combination will be considered worth investigating if at least four objective responses are observed. If the null hypothesis is rejected, ICONIC will be the first proof of concept of the feasibility and clinical activity of the addition of carbon ion radiotherapy to immune checkpoint inhibitors in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cavalieri
- Department of Head & Neck Medical Oncology 3, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, Milan, 20133, Italy
- Department of Oncology & Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Via Santa Sofia 9/1, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Viviana Vitolo
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Via E. Borloni 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Amelia Barcellini
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Via E. Borloni 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine & Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, Via Aselli 43/45, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Sara Ronchi
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Via E. Borloni 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Angelica Facoetti
- Radiobiology Unit, Research and Development Department, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Via E. Borloni 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Chiara Campo
- Scientific Direction, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Via E. Borloni 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Catherine Klersy
- SSD Biostatistica & Clinical Trial Center Service of Biometry and Statistics, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Golgi 19, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Silvia Molinelli
- Medical Physics, Clinical Department, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Via E. Borloni 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Francesco Agustoni
- Department of Internal Medicine & Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, Via Aselli 43/45, Pavia, 27100, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Golgi 19, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Virginia Valeria Ferretti
- SSD Biostatistica & Clinical Trial Center Service of Biometry and Statistics, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Golgi 19, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Annalisa De Silvestri
- SSD Biostatistica & Clinical Trial Center Service of Biometry and Statistics, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Golgi 19, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Marco Platania
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Michele Del Vecchio
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Marco Durante
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Darmstadt, 64291, Germany
| | - Alexander Helm
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Darmstadt, 64291, Germany
| | - Claudia Fournier
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Darmstadt, 64291, Germany
| | - Filippo de Braud
- Department of Oncology & Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Via Santa Sofia 9/1, Milan, 20122, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Paolo Pedrazzoli
- Department of Internal Medicine & Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, Via Aselli 43/45, Pavia, 27100, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Golgi 19, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Ester Orlandi
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Via E. Borloni 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Lisa Licitra
- Department of Head & Neck Medical Oncology 3, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, Milan, 20133, Italy
- Department of Oncology & Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Via Santa Sofia 9/1, Milan, 20122, Italy
- Scientific Direction, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Via E. Borloni 1, Pavia, 27100, Italy
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Transcriptional Dynamics of DNA Damage Responsive Genes in Circulating Leukocytes during Radiotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14112649. [PMID: 35681629 PMCID: PMC9179543 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study, the transcriptional response of a panel of radiation responsive genes was monitored over time in blood samples after radiation exposure in vivo. For this aim, cancer patients treated by radiotherapy were recruited after consent forms were obtained. Following the first fraction of radiotherapy, 2 mL blood samples were collected at different time points during the first 24h hours (before the second fraction was delivered) and at mid and end of treatment. Amongst the 9 genes studied, the gene FDXR stood out as the most sensitive and responsive to the low dose of radiation received from the localised radiation treatment by the circulating white blood cells. The activation of FDXR was found to depend on the volume of the body exposed with a peak of expression around 8–9 hours after irradiation was delivered. Finally results obtained ex vivo confirmed the results obtained in vivo. Abstract External beam radiation therapy leads to cellular activation of the DNA damage response (DDR). DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) activate the ATM/CHEK2/p53 pathway, inducing the transcription of stress genes. The dynamic nature of this transcriptional response has not been directly observed in vivo in humans. In this study we monitored the messenger RNA transcript abundances of nine DNA damage-responsive genes (CDKN1A, GADD45, CCNG1, FDXR, DDB2, MDM2, PHPT1, SESN1, and PUMA), eight of them regulated by p53 in circulating blood leukocytes at different time points (2, 6–8, 16–18, and 24 h) in cancer patients (lung, neck, brain, and pelvis) undergoing radiotherapy. We discovered that, although the calculated mean physical dose to the blood was very low (0.038–0.169 Gy), an upregulation of Ferredoxin reductase (FDXR) gene transcription was detectable 2 h after exposure and was dose dependent from the lowest irradiated percentage of the body (3.5% whole brain) to the highest, (up to 19.4%, pelvic zone) reaching a peak at 6–8 h. The radiation response of the other genes was not strong enough after such low doses to provide meaningful information. Following multiple fractions, the expression level increased further and was still significantly up-regulated by the end of the treatment. Moreover, we compared FDXR transcriptional responses to ionizing radiation (IR) in vivo with healthy donors’ blood cells exposed ex vivo and found a good correlation in the kinetics of expression from the 8-hours time-point onward, suggesting that a molecular transcriptional regulation mechanism yet to be identified is involved. To conclude, we provided the first in vivo human report of IR-induced gene transcription temporal response of a panel of p53-dependant genes. FDXR was demonstrated to be the most responsive gene, able to reliably inform on the low doses following partial body irradiation of the patients, and providing an expression pattern corresponding to the % of body exposed. An extended study would provide individual biological dosimetry information and may reveal inter-individual variability to predict radiotherapy-associated adverse health outcomes.
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Friedrich T, Scholz M, Durante M. A predictive biophysical model of the combined action of radiotherapy and immunotherapy in cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022; 113:872-884. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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On the interplay between dosiomics and genomics in radiation-induced lymphopenia of lung cancer patients. Radiother Oncol 2021; 167:219-225. [PMID: 34979216 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the interplay between spatial dose patterns and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the development of radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) in 186 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing chemo-radiotherapy (RT). METHODS This study included NSCLC patients enrolled in a randomized trial of protons vs. photons with available absolute lymphocyte counts at baseline and during RT and XRCC1-rs25487 genotyping data. After masking the GTV, planning CT scans and dose maps were spatially normalized to a common anatomical reference. A Voxel-Based Analysis (VBA) was performed to assess voxel-wise relationships of dosiomic and genomic explanatory variables with RIL. The underlying generalized linear model was designed to include both the explanatory variables (3D dose distributions and the XRCC1-rs25487 genotypes) and possible nuisance variables significantly correlated with RIL. The maps of model coefficients as well as their significance maps were generated. RESULTS Measures for RIL definition during RT were characterized, including kinetic parameters for lymphocyte loss. The VBA generated three-dimensional maps of correlation between RIL and dose in lymphoid organs as well as organs with abundant blood pools. The identified voxel-wise relationships account for XRCC1-rs25487 polymorphism and demonstrate the variant AA genotype being detrimental to lymphocyte depletion (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION The performed analyses blindly highlighted relevant anatomical regions that contributed most to lymphocyte depletion during RT and the interplay of the variant XRCC1-rs25487 AA genotype with the dose delivered to the primary lymphoid organs. These findings may help to guide the development of dosimetric RIL mitigation strategies for the application of effective individualized RT.
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Marczyk M, Polańska J, Wojcik A, Lundholm L. Analysis of the Applicability of microRNAs in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes as Biomarkers of Sensitivity and Exposure to Fractionated Radiotherapy towards Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8705. [PMID: 34445424 PMCID: PMC8395710 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers for predicting individual response to radiation and for dose verification are needed to improve radiotherapy. A biomarker should optimally show signal fidelity, meaning that its level is stable and proportional to the absorbed dose. miRNA levels in human blood serum were suggested as promising biomarkers. The aim of the present investigation was to test the miRNA biomarker in leukocytes of breast cancer patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy. Leukocytes were isolated from blood samples collected prior to exposure (control); on the day when a total dose of 2 Gy, 10 Gy, or 20 Gy was reached; and one month after therapy ended (46-50 Gy in total). RNA sequencing was performed and univariate analysis was used to analyse the effect of the radiation dose on the expression of single miRNAs. To check if combinations of miRNAs can predict absorbed dose, a multinomial logistic regression model was built using a training set from eight patients (representing 40 samples) and a validation set with samples from the remaining eight patients (15 samples). Finally, Broadside, an explorative interaction mining tool, was used to extract sets of interacting miRNAs. The most prominently increased miRNA was miR-744-5p, followed by miR-4461, miR-34a-5p, miR-6513-5p, miR-1246, and miR-454-3p. Decreased miRNAs were miR-3065-3p, miR-103a-2-5p, miR-30b-3p, and miR-5690. Generally, most miRNAs showed a relatively strong inter-individual variability and different temporal patterns over the course of radiotherapy. In conclusion, miR-744-5p shows promise as a stable miRNA marker, but most tested miRNAs displayed individual signal variability which, at least in this setting, may exclude them as sensitive biomarkers of radiation response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Marczyk
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; (M.M.); (J.P.)
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Joanna Polańska
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; (M.M.); (J.P.)
| | - Andrzej Wojcik
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-406 Kielce, Poland
| | - Lovisa Lundholm
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
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8
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Friedrich T, Henthorn N, Durante M. Modeling Radioimmune Response-Current Status and Perspectives. Front Oncol 2021; 11:647272. [PMID: 33796470 PMCID: PMC8008061 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.647272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of immune therapy with radiation offers an exciting and promising treatment modality in cancer therapy. It has been hypothesized that radiation induces damage signals within the tumor, making it more detectable for the immune system. In combination with inhibiting immune checkpoints an effective anti-tumor immune response may be established. This inversion from tumor immune evasion raises numerous questions to be solved to support an effective clinical implementation: These include the optimum immune drug and radiation dose time courses, the amount of damage and associated doses required to stimulate an immune response, and the impact of lymphocyte status and dynamics. Biophysical modeling can offer unique insights, providing quantitative information addressing these factors and highlighting mechanisms of action. In this work we review the existing modeling approaches of combined ‘radioimmune’ response, as well as associated fields of study. We propose modeling attempts that appear relevant for an effective and predictive model. We emphasize the importance of the time course of drug and dose delivery in view to the time course of the triggered biological processes. Special attention is also paid to the dose distribution to circulating blood lymphocytes and the effect this has on immune competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Friedrich
- Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nicholas Henthorn
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Durante
- Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Darmstadt, Germany.,Institute for Solid State Physics, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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Wang L, Fossati P, Paganetti H, Ma L, Gillison M, Myers JN, Hug E, Frank SJ. The Biological Basis for Enhanced Effects of Proton Radiation Therapy Relative to Photon Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Part Ther 2021; 8:3-13. [PMID: 34285931 PMCID: PMC8270087 DOI: 10.14338/ijpt-20-00070.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) often present as local-regionally advanced disease at diagnosis, for which a current standard of care is x-ray-based radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy. This approach provides effective local regional tumor control, but at the cost of acute and late toxicity that can worsen quality of life and contribute to mortality. For patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in particular, for whom the prognosis is generally favorable, de-escalation of the radiation dose to surrounding normal tissues without diminishing the radiation dose to tumors is desired to mitigate radiation-related toxic effects. Proton radiation therapy (PRT) may be an excellent de-escalation strategy because of its physical properties (that eliminate unnecessary radiation to surrounding tissues) and because of its biological properties (including tumor-specific variations in relative biological effectiveness [RBE] and linear energy transfer [LET]), in combination with concurrent systemic therapy. Early clinical evidence has shown that compared with x-ray-based radiation therapy, PRT offers comparable disease control with fewer and less severe treatment-related toxicities that can worsen the quality of life for patients with HNSCC. Herein, we review aspects of the biological basis of enhanced HNSCC cell response to proton versus x-ray irradiation in terms of radiation-induced gene and protein expression, DNA damage and repair, cell death, tumor immune responses, and radiosensitization of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Piero Fossati
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MedAustron Ion Therapy Center, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
| | - Harald Paganetti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maura Gillison
- Department of Thoracic-Head & Neck Med Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey N. Myers
- Department of Head & Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eugen Hug
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MedAustron Ion Therapy Center, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
| | - Steven J. Frank
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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10
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Durante M, Formenti S. Harnessing radiation to improve immunotherapy: better with particles? Br J Radiol 2019; 93:20190224. [PMID: 31317768 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20190224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy is one of the most promising strategies for cancer treatment. Recent clinical results support the pre-clinical experiments pointing to a benefit for the combined treatment in metastatic patients. Charged particle therapy (using protons or heavier ions) is considered one of the most advanced radiotherapy techniques, but its cost remains higher than conventional X-ray therapy. The most important question to be addressed to justify a more widespread use of particle therapy is whether they can be more effective than X-rays in combination with immunotherapy. Protons and heavy ions have physical advantages compared to X-rays that lead to a reduced damage to the immune cells, that are required for an effective immune response. Moreover, densely ionizing radiation may have biological advantages, due to different cell death pathways and release of cytokine mediators of inflammation. We will discuss results in esophageal cancer patients showing that charged particles can reduce the damage to blood lymphocytes compared to X-rays, and preliminary in vitro studies pointing to an increased release of immune-stimulating cytokines after heavy ion exposure. Pre-clinical and clinical studies are ongoing to test these hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Durante
- GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Biophysics Department, Darmstadt, Germany.,Technische Universität Darmstadt, Institut für Festkörperphysik, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Silvia Formenti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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Zahnreich S, Ebersberger A, Kaina B, Schmidberger H. Biodosimetry Based on γ-H2AX Quantification and Cytogenetics after Partial- and Total-Body Irradiation during Fractionated Radiotherapy. Radiat Res 2015; 183:432-46. [DOI: 10.1667/rr13911.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Zahnreich
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Anne Ebersberger
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Bernd Kaina
- Department of Toxicology, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinz Schmidberger
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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12
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Pignalosa D, Lee R, Hartel C, Sommer S, Nikoghosyan A, Debus J, Ritter S, Durante M. Chromosome inversions in lymphocytes of prostate cancer patients treated with X-rays and carbon ions. Radiother Oncol 2013; 109:256-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2013.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2013] [Revised: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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13
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Albuquerque K, Tell D, Lobo P, Millbrandt L, Mathews HL, Janusek LW. Impact of partial versus whole breast radiation therapy on fatigue, perceived stress, quality of life and natural killer cell activity in women with breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:251. [PMID: 22708709 PMCID: PMC3542587 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2011] [Accepted: 05/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction This pilot study used a prospective longitudinal design to compare the effect of adjuvant whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) versus partial breast radiation therapy (PBRT) on fatigue, perceived stress, quality of life and natural killer cell activity (NKCA) in women receiving radiation after breast cancer surgery. Methods Women (N = 30) with early-stage breast cancer received either PBRT, Mammosite brachytherapy at dose of 34 Gy 10 fractions/5 days, (N = 15) or WBRT, 3-D conformal techniques at dose of 50 Gy +10 Gy Boost/30 fractions, (N = 15). Treatment was determined by the attending oncologist after discussion with the patient and the choice was based on tumor stage and clinical need. Women were assessed prior to initiation of radiation therapy and twice after completion of radiation therapy. At each assessment, blood was obtained for determination of NKCA and the following instruments were administered: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to evaluate group differences in initial outcomes and change in outcomes over time. Results Fatigue (FACT-F) levels, which were similar prior to radiation therapy, demonstrated a significant difference in trajectory. Women who received PBRT reported progressively lower fatigue; conversely fatigue worsened over time for women who received WBRT. No difference in perceived stress was observed between women who received PBRT or WBRT. Both groups of women reported similar levels of quality of life (FACT-G) prior to initiation of radiation therapy. However, HLM analysis revealed significant group differences in the trajectory of quality of life, such that women receiving PBRT exhibited a linear increase in quality of life over time after completion of radiation therapy; whereas women receiving WBRT showed a decreasing trajectory. NKCA was also similar between therapy groups but additional post hoc analysis revealed that better quality of life significantly predicted higher NKCA regardless of therapy. Conclusions Compared to WBRT, PBRT results in more rapid recovery from cancer-related fatigue with improved restoration of quality of life after radiation therapy. Additionally, better quality of life predicts higher NKCA against tumor targets, emphasizing the importance of fostering quality of life for women undergoing adjuvant radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Albuquerque
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Loyola University Health System, Maywood, IL, USA.
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14
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Hartel C, Nikoghosyan A, Durante M, Sommer S, Nasonova E, Fournier C, Lee R, Debus J, Schulz-Ertner D, Ritter S. Chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of prostate cancer patients treated with IMRT and carbon ions. Radiother Oncol 2010; 95:73-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2009.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2009] [Revised: 08/04/2009] [Accepted: 08/19/2009] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Senthamizhchelvan S, Pant G, Rath G, Julka P, Nair O. Biodosimetry using micronucleus assay in acute partial body therapeutic irradiation. Phys Med 2009; 25:82-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2008.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2007] [Revised: 05/02/2008] [Accepted: 05/16/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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16
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Gotoh E, Durante M. Chromosome condensation outside of mitosis: mechanisms and new tools. J Cell Physiol 2006; 209:297-304. [PMID: 16810672 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.20720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A basic principle of cell physiology is that chromosomes condense during mitosis. However, condensation can be uncoupled from mitotic events under certain circumstances. This phenomenon is known as "premature chromosome condensation (PCC)." PCC provides insights in the mechanisms of chromosome condensation, thus helping clarifying the key molecular events leading to the mitosis. Besides, PCC has proved to be an useful tool for analyzing chromosomes in interphase. For example, using PCC we can visualize genetic damage shortly after the exposure to clastogenic agents. More than 30 years ago, the first report of PCC in interphase cells fused to mitotic cells using Sendai virus was described (virus-mediated PCC). The method paved the way to a great number of fundamental discoveries in cytogenetics, radiation biology, and related fields, but it has been hampered by technical difficulties. The novel drug-induced PCC method was introduced about 10 years ago. While fusion-induced PCC exploits the action of external maturation/mitosis promoting factor (MPF), migrating from the inducer mitotic cell to the interphase recipient, drug-induced PCC exploits protein phosphatase inhibitors, which can activate endogenous intracellular MPF. This method is much simpler than fusion-induced PCC, and has already proven useful in different fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eisuke Gotoh
- Division of Genetic Resources, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract
Research in the field of biological effects of heavy charged particles is needed for both heavy-ion therapy (hadrontherapy) and protection from the exposure to galactic cosmic radiation in long-term manned space missions. Although the exposure conditions (e.g. high- vs. low-dose rate) and relevant endpoints (e.g. cell killing vs. neoplastic transformation) are different in the two fields, it is clear that a substantial overlap exists in several research topics. Three such topics are discussed in this short review: individual radiosensitivity, mixed radiation fields, and late stochastic effects of heavy ions. In addition, researchers involved either in experimental studies on space radiation protection or heavy-ion therapy will basically use the same accelerator facilities. It seems to be important that novel accelerator facilities planned (or under construction) for heavy-ion therapy reserve a substantial amount of beamtime to basic studies of heavy-ion radiobiology and its applications in space radiation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Durante
- Department of Physics and INFN, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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Lee R, Yamada S, Yamamoto N, Miyamoto T, Ando K, Durante M, Tsujii H. Chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes of lung cancer patients treated with carbon ions. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2004; 45:195-199. [PMID: 15304960 DOI: 10.1269/jrr.45.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the normal tissue damage caused by carbon-ion therapy. We measured chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes before, during, and after radiotherapy, using the techniques of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and chemically induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC). Twenty-two lung cancer patients treated at HIMAC (Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba) entered the study and signed an informed consent. Frequencies of lymphocytes with chromosomal aberrations at the end of carbon-ion therapy varied among the patients. This frequency was significantly correlated to the radiation field size and weakly correlated to the counts of white blood cells and lymphocytes during the treatment. As a result, we have found that chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients treated for lung cancer by carbon-ions were dependent on target volume, possibly reflecting the increased involvement of lymph nodes in the target field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryonfa Lee
- Heavy-Ion Radiobiology Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan
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