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Objective: To study the effects of low dose radiation (LDR) on tumor apoptosis, cell cycle progression and changes of apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 in tumor-bearing mice. Methods: Male mice of Kunming strain were implanted subcutaneously with S180 sarcoma cells in the left inguen as an in situ experimental animal model. Seven days later, the mice were subjected to 75 mGy whole-body γ-irradiation. At 24 and 48 h after the irradiation, all mice were sacrificed. The tumor sizes were measured, and tumor cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 and the apoptotic rate of tumor cells were observed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Results: Tumors grew significantly slower after LDR (P