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This paper summarizes about 9 years of effort by Mount Sinai to successfully migrate completely from radioactive irradiators to x-ray irradiators without compromising patient care or research studies. All the effort by Mount Sinai to permanently remove the risk of malicious use of radioactive materials as Radiological Dispersal Device or dirty bomb is reviewed. Due to the unique characteristics of the cesium chloride (CsCl) used in irradiators, it is especially susceptible to be used as a dirty bombs. Mount Sinai originally had four of such irradiators. To reduce and eventually remove the risk of malicious use of radioactive materials, Mount Sinai in New York City has taken several steps. One of such measures was to harden the radioactive irradiators to make the radioactive materials harder to be stolen for malicious purposes. By increasing the delay time, the local law enforcement agency (LLEA) will have more time to stop the intruder. Another measure taken was to implement enhanced security in facilities having radioactive materials. We collaborated with the National Nuclear Security Administration and used state-of-the-art security equipment such as Biometric Access Control and 24/7 video monitoring. In addition, a remote monitoring system with alarms was installed and connected to LLEA for constant monitoring and possible intervention, if necessary, in a timely manner. The other measure taken was to limit the number of people who have access to such radioactive materials. We adopted a single person operator method and reduced the number of people having access from 145 people to only a few people. The adoption of such measures has reduced the risk significantly; however, the best way to remove the permanent risk of these radioactive materials that may be used for a dirty bomb is to use alternative technology to replace these high-activity radioactive sources. In 2013, Mount Sinai purchased its first x-ray irradiator to investigate the feasibility of using x-ray irradiators instead of cesium irradiators for research purposes for cells and small mice. The results from comparison studies were promising, which led to the decision of permanent migration of all cesium irradiators to x-ray irradiators. As of January 2018, Mount Sinai successfully disposed all its Cs irradiators. At this time, Mount Sinai, as one of the largest health care institutions in NY with about 50,000 employees, has migrated completely to alternative technology and removed the risk of malicious use of radioactive materials permanently.

There has been significant recent interest in combining radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment. One proposed method involves conjugating photosensitizers (PS) to scintillating nanoparticles. However, the production of nanoscintillators that are stable in biological media is problematic since many of the commonly used compositions chelate phosphate. In this paper, the problem was solved by first synthesizing LaF3 nanoparticles, followed by surface modification with alendronate, which serves as a stable anchor for conjugation of molecules of interest. The nanoparticles had an average diameter of 4 nm, and were doped with either Ce^(3+), Tb^(3+), or both. In every case, a LaF3 shell was added. In subsequent steps, poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) and photosensitizers (either chlorin e6 or rose bengal) were covalently linked to the alendronate ligand via an amide bond. This new formulation is stable in several solutions and buffers used commonly in the laboratory for cell culture. Moreover, cellular uptake and lack of toxicity up to a concentration of 50 μM were observed in B16 murine melanoma cells. Energy transfer between the doped nanoparticle core and the conjugated photosensitizers was demonstrated using UV excitation, and scintillation was demonstrated using x-rays.

A guinea pig skin model was developed to determine the dose-dependent response to soft X-ray radiation into the dermis.X-ray exposure (50 kVp) was defined to a 4.0 × 4.0 cm area on the lateral surface of a guinea pig using lead shielding. Guinea pigs were exposed to a single fraction of X-ray irradiation ranging from 25-79 Gy via an XRAD320ix Biological Irradiator with the collimator removed. Gross skin changes were measured using clinical assessments defined by the Kumar scale. Skin contracture was assessed, as well as histological evaluations.Loss of dermal integrity was shown after a single dose of soft X-ray radiation at or above 32 Gy with the central 2.0 × 2.0 cm of the exposed site being the most affected. Hallmarks of the skin injury included moist desquamation, ulceration and wound contracture, as well as alterations in epithelium, dermis, muscle and adipose. Changes in the skin were time- and radiation dose-dependent. Full-thickness injury occurred without animal mortality or gross changes in the underlying organs.The guinea pig is an appropriate small animal model for the short-term screening of countermeasures for cutaneous radiation injury (CRI).

Dense inorganic nanoparticles have recently been identified as promising radiosensitizers. In addition to dose enhancement through increased attenuation of ionizing radiation relative to biological tissue, scintillating nanoparticles can transfer energy to coupled photosensitizers to amplify production of reactive oxygen species, as well as provide UVvisible emission for optical imaging. Lanthanum fluoride is a transparent material that is easily prepared as nanocrystals, and which can provide radioluminescence at a number of wavelengths through simple substitution of lanthanum ions with other luminescent lanthanides. We have prepared lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles doped with cerium, terbium, or both, that have good spectral overlap with chlorine6 or Rose Bengal photosensitizer molecules. We have also developed a strategy for stable conjugation of the photosensitizers to the nanoparticle surface, allowing for high energy transfer efficiencies on a per molecule basis. Additionally, we have succeeded in making our conjugates colloidally stable under physiological conditions. Here we present our latest results, using nanoparticles and nanoparticle-photosensitizer conjugates to demonstrate radiation dose enhancement in B16 melanoma cells. The effects of nanoparticle treatment prior to 250 kVp x-ray irradiation were investigated through clonogenic survival assays and cell cycle analysis. Using a custom apparatus, we have also observed scintillation of the nanoparticles and conjugates under the same conditions that the cell samples are irradiated.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in wound repair; however, little is known pertaining to RAS expression in response to thermal injury and the combination of radiation plus burn injury (CRBI). The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that thermal injury modifies expression of RAS components and CRBI delayed this up-regulation of RAS. Skin from uninjured mice was compared with mice receiving local thermal injury or CRBI (injury site). Skin was analyzed for gene and protein expression of RAS components. There was an initial increase in the expression of various components of RAS following thermal injury. However, in the higher CRBI group there is an initial decrease in AT(1b) (vasoconstriction, pro-proliferative), AT(2) (vasodilation, differentiation), and Mas (vasodilation, anti-inflammatory) gene expression. This corresponded with a delay and decrease in AT(1) , AT(2) , and MAS protein expression in fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The reduction in RAS receptor positive fibroblasts and keratinocytes correlated with a reduction in collagen deposition and keratinocyte infiltration into the wounded area resulting in a delay of reepithelialization following CRBI. These data support the hypothesis that delayed wound healing observed in subjects following radiation exposure may be in part due to decreased expression of RAS.

PURPOSE: Angiotensin (1–7) [A(1–7)] is a component of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) that stimulates hematopoietic recovery after myelosuppression. In a Phase I/IIa clinical trial, thrombocytopenia after chemotherapy was reduced by A(1–7). In this study, the ability of A(1–7) to improve recovery after total body irradiation (TBI) is shown with specific attention to radiation-induced hematopoietic injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were exposed to TBI (doses of 2–7 Gray [Gy]) of cesium 137 gamma rays, followed by treatment with A(1–7), typical doses were 100–1000 μg/kg given once or once daily for a specified number of days depending on the study. Animals are injected subcutaneously via the nape of the neck with 0.1 ml drug in saline. The recovery of blood and bone marrow cells was determined. Effects of TBI and A(1–7) on survival and bleeding time was also evaluated. RESULTS: Daily administration of A(1–7) after radiation exposure improved survival (from 60% to 92–97%) and reduced bleeding time at day 30 after TBI. Further, A(1–7) increased early mixed progenitors (3- to 5-fold), megakaryocyte (2- to 3-fold), myeloid (3- to 6-fold) and erythroid (2- to 5-fold) progenitors in the bone marrow and reduced radiation-induced thrombocytopenia (RIT) (up to 2-fold). Reduction in the number of treatments to 3 per week also improved bone marrow recovery and reduced RIT. As emergency responder and healthcare systems in case of nuclear accident or/and terrorist attack may be overwhelmed, the consequence of delayed initiation of treatment was ascertained. Treatment with A(1–7) can be delayed up to 5 days and still be effective in the reduction of RIT or acceleration of bone marrow recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented in this paper indicate that A(1–7) reduces the consequences of critical radiation exposure and can be initiated well after initial exposure with maximal effects on early responding hematopoietic progenitors when treatment is initiated 2 days after exposure and 5 days after exposure for the later responding progenitors and reduced thrombocytopenia. There was some effect of A(1–7) even when given days after radiation exposure.

A hybrid of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed in previously reported studies. This approach utilizes scintillating nanoparticles to transfer energy to attached photosensitizers, thus generating singlet oxygen for local killing of malignant cells. Its effectiveness strongly depends upon the scintillation yield of the nanoparticles. Using a liquid scintillator as a reference standard, we estimated the scintillation yield of Ce0.1La0.9F3/LaF3 core/shell nanoparticles at 28.9 mg/ml in water to be 350 photons/MeV under orthovoltage X-ray irradiation. The subsequent singlet oxygen production for a 60 Gy cumulative dose to cells was estimated to be four orders of magnitude lower than the “Niedre killing dose,” used as a target value for effective cell killing. Without significant improvements in the radioluminescence properties of the nanoparticles, this approach to “deep PDT” is likely to be ineffective. Additional considerations and alternatives to singlet oxygen are discussed.

Background & Aims Damage to hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) initiates sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), which is most commonly a consequence of myeloablative chemoirradiation or ingestion of pyrrolizidine alkaloids such as monocrotaline (Mct). This study examines whether SECs are of bone marrow origin, whether bone marrow repair can be a determinant of severity of liver injury, and whether treatment with progenitor cells is beneficial. Methods Mct-treated female rats received infusion of male whole bone marrow or CD133 + cells at the peak of sinusoidal injury. The Y chromosome was identified in isolated SECs by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Bone marrow suppression was induced by irradiation of both lower extremities with shielding of the abdomen. Results SECs in uninjured liver have both hematopoietic (CD45, CD33) and endothelial (CD31) markers. After Mct-induced SOS, infusion of bone marrow–derived CD133 + progenitor cells replaces more than one quarter of SECs. All CD133 + cells recovered from the SEC fraction after injury are CD45 + . CD133 + /CD45 + progenitors also repaired central vein endothelium. Mct suppresses CD133 + /CD45 + progenitors in bone marrow by 50% and in the circulation by 97%. Irradiation-induced bone marrow suppression elicited SOS from a subtoxic dose of Mct, whereas infusion of bone marrow during the necrotic phase of SOS nearly eradicates histologic features of SOS. Conclusions SECs have both hematopoietic and endothelial markers. Bone marrow–derived CD133 + /CD45 + progenitors replace SECs and central vein endothelial cells after injury. Toxicity to bone marrow progenitors impairs repair and contributes to the pathogenesis of SOS, whereas timely infusion of bone marrow has therapeutic benefit.

We report progress towards combining radiation therapy (RT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) using scintillating nanoparticle (NP)-photosensitizer conjugates. In this approach, scintillating NPs are excited by clinically relevant ionizing radiation sources and subsequently transfer energy to conjugated photosensitizers via FRET, acting as an energy mediator between ionizing radiation and photosensitizer molecules. The excited photosensitizers generate reactive oxygen species that can induce local damage and immune response. Advantages of the scheme include: 1) Compared with traditional radiation therapy, a possible decrease of the total radiation dose needed to eliminate the lesion; 2) Compared with traditional PDT, the ability to target deeper and more highly pigmented lesions; 3) The possibility of additional photosensitizing effects due to the scintillation of the nanoparticles. In this work, the photosensitizer molecule chlorin e6 was covalently bound to the surface of LaF3:Ce NPs. After conjugation, the photoluminescence intensity of NPs decreased, and fluorescence lifetime of conjugated chlorin e6 became sensitive to excitation wavelength, suggesting rapid FRET. In addition, scintillation spectra of nanoparticles were measured. Preliminary calculations suggest that the observed scintillation efficiencies are sufficient to enhance RT. In vitro cancer cell studies suggest conjugates are taken up by cells. Survival curves with radiation exposure suggest that the particles alone cause radiosensitization comparable to that seen with gold nanoparticles.

CexLa1-xF3 nanoparticles have been proposed for use in nanoscintillator-photosensitizer systems, where excitation of nanoparticles by ionizing radiation would result in energy transfer to photosensitizer molecules, effectively combining the effects of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. Thus far, there have been few experimental investigations of such systems. This study reports novel synthesis methods for water-dispersible Ce0.1La0.9F3/LaF3 and CeF3/LaF3 core/shell nanoparticles and an investigation of energy transfer to photosensitizers. Unbound deuteroporphyrin IX 2,4-disulfonic acid was found to substantially quench the luminescence of large (10 nm diameter) aminocaproic acid-stabilized nanoparticles at reasonable concentrations and loading amounts: up to 80% quenching at 6% w/w photosensitizer loading. Energy transfer was found to occur primarily through a cascade, with excitation of "regular" site Ce(3+) at 252 nm relayed to photosensitizer molecules at the nanoparticle surface through intermediate "perturbed" Ce(3+) sites. Smaller (5 nm) citrate-stabilized nanoparticles were coated with the bisphosphonate alendronate, allowing covalent conjugation to chlorin e6 and resulting in static quenching of the nanoparticle luminescence: ∼50% at ∼0.44% w/w. These results provide insight into energy transfer mechanisms that may prove valuable for optimizing similar systems.

Methyl- tert -butylether (MTBE) is an oxygenate widely used in the United States as a motor vehicle fuel additive to reduce emissions and as an octane booster [National Research Council, Toxicological and Performance Aspects of Oxygenated Motor Vehicle Fules, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1996]. But it is the potential for MTBE to enter drinking water supplies that has become an area of public concern. MTBE has been shown to induce liver and kidney tumors in rodents but the biochemical process leading to carcinogenesis is unknown. MTBE was previously shown to be non-mutagenic in the standard Ames plate incorporation test with tester strains that detect frame shift (TA98) and point mutations (TA100) and in a suspension assay using TA104, a strain that detects oxidative damage, suggesting a non-genotoxic mechanism accounts for its carcinogenic potential. These strains are deficient in excision repair due to deletion of the uvrB gene. We hypothesized that the carcinogenic activity of MTBE may be dependent upon a functional excision repair system that attempts to remove alkyl adducts and/or oxidative base damage caused by direct interaction of MTBE with DNA or by its metabolites, formaldehyde and tert -butyl alcohol (TBA), established carcinogens that are mutagenic in some Ames strains. To test our hypothesis, the genotoxicity of MTBE-induced DNA alterations was assayed using the standard Ames test with TA102, a strain similar to TA104 in the damage it detects but uvrB+ and, therefore, excision repair proficient. The assay was performed (1) with and without Aroclor-induced rat S-9, (2) with and without the addition of formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH), and (3) with human S-9 homogenate. MTBE was weakly mutagenic when tested directly and moderately mutagenic with S-9 activation producing between 80 and 200 TA102 revertants/mg of compound. Mutagenicity was inhibited 25%–30% by FDH. TA102 revertants were also induced by TBA and by MTBE when human S-9 was substituted for rat S-9. We conclude that MTBE and its metabolites induce a mutagenic pathway involving oxidation of DNA bases and an intact repair system. These data are significant in view of the controversy surrounding public safety and the environmental release of MTBE and similar fuel additives.

We have examined the neutron energy dependency of cell killing and mutation induction at the hprt locus in Chinese hamster V79 cells. Monoenergetic neutrons at 0.32, 0.57, and 1.2 MeV were generated at the Hiroshima University Radiobiological Research Accelerator (HIRRAC) Facility, and were used to irradiate cells. The variation in RBE with neutron energy for the end points of cell survival and hprt mutation induction was observed. When compared to 137Cs gamma-rays, all neutron energies were more effective at both cell killing and induction of mutation. Over the range of the neutron energies examined, we found that cytotoxicity increased as the energy decreased from 1.2 to 0.32 MeV. In comparison to gamma-rays, RBEs for cell lethality at 10% survival were 5.7, 6.7, and 7.6 for 1.2, 0.57, and 0.32 MeV, respectively. Mutation induction, on the other hand, was highest at 0.57 MeV with a gradual decrease at 1.2 and 0.32 MeV. RBEs for mutation induction were 9.7, 19.4, and 13.9 for 1.2, 0.57, and 0.32 MeV neutrons. We isolated independent V79 cell mutants at the hprt locus from untreated and neutron-exposed cells and determined the genetic changes underlying the mutation by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based exon deletion analysis. Preliminary results are suggestive of a specific relationship between deletion pattern and neutron energy.

An interest in the possible cancer causing ability of neutrons began soon after their discovery. Early use of neutrons from radioactive sources and from cyclotrons led to a need to define risk for such exposures. This need was soon followed by a more tangible need to define risk to the general population of high LET radiation from nuclear fall out and use of the Atomic bomb and possible use of the H-bomb. Neutrons were soon found to be very effective cell killing agents compared to conventional ionizing radiation. However High LET radiation sources and neutrons in particular, come in many different energies and from many types of sources. I will survey the differences between different energy neutrons and conventional types of radiation, particularly with respect to the dose rate of exposures and the influence of repair or lack thereof and more recently the effect of cell cycle distribution on the carcinogenic outcome. I will illustrate these ideas with examples of carcinogenicity studies and mutation studies from my own laboratory and in some cases from the work of others. Lastly I will introduce some possible avenues for molecular studies of neutron effects that might answer such vexing questions as the real risk at very low doses, is repair error free or error prone, do neutrons cause genetic instability for many cell generations after exposure, and others? There remain many questions about the biology of neutron action that require answers if we are to protect the ever increasing number of people exposed to them because of their growing use in medicine, in the military and in commercial industry.

Chronic exposure of V79 cells to 80 daily doses of 150 J/M2, 290-330-nm ultraviolet light (UVB) produced a mixed cell population that was found to be generally more resistant to cell killing by both UVB and UVC (254 nm) than the wild-type cells. Several subclones from this population were studied for their survival and mutation responses and then one was chosen for further characterization based on this data. The studies carried out on this subclone, designated N806, show that its spontaneous HPRT mutation rate is approximately 10 times higher than that of wild-type V79 cells and it is almost three times more mutable than the wild-type cells when both are induced by UVB or UVC. The mutation responses of N806 and MI2G cells to 50-kVp X-rays are different, but the N806 cells do not appear to be hypermutable as they are with UV. N806 cells are also moderately more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of UV radiation but are more sensitive than MI2G cells when exposed to X-rays. Assays to measure the removal of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and the incision step of nucleotide excision repair have revealed no detectable difference in the repair capacities of N806 and parental V79 cells. These results suggest that chronic, protracted UV irradiation may be able to induce a 'mutator phenotype' in a subpopulation of the progenitor cells.

The ability of the liver to regenerate is crucial to protect liver function after injury and during chronic disease. Increases in hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are thought to drive liver regeneration. However, in contrast to endothelial progenitor cells, mature LSECs express little HGF. Therefore, we sought to establish in rats whether liver injury causes BM LSEC progenitor cells to engraft in the liver and provide increased levels of HGF and to examine the relative contribution of resident and BM LSEC progenitors. LSEC label-retaining cells and progenitors were identified in liver and LSEC progenitors in BM. BM LSEC progenitors did not contribute to normal LSEC turnover in the liver. However, after partial hepatectomy, BM LSEC progenitor proliferation and mobilization to the circulation doubled. In the liver, one-quarter of the LSECs were BM derived, and BM LSEC progenitors differentiated into fenestrated LSECs. When irradiated rats underwent partial hepatectomy, liver regeneration was compromised, but infusion of LSEC progenitors rescued the defect. Further analysis revealed that BM LSEC progenitors expressed substantially more HGF and were more proliferative than resident LSEC progenitors after partial hepatectomy. Resident LSEC progenitors within their niche may play a smaller role in recovery from partial hepatectomy than BM LSEC progenitors, but, when infused after injury, these progenitors engrafted and expanded markedly over a 2-month period. In conclusion, LSEC progenitor cells are present in liver and BM, and recruitment of BM LSEC progenitors is necessary for normal liver regeneration.

We demonstrated the ability of aminothiols WR-1065 and WR-151326, each at concentration 1 mM, to protect C3H/10T½ cells against the transforming effects of fission neutrons under two distinct sets of experimental conditions. Experiments with WR-1065 were performed with stationary cultures of C3H/10T½ cells, and a TRIGA reactor-generated fission neutron field at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (USA). Experiments with WR-151326 were performed with proliferating cultures of C3H/10T½ cells and a JANUS reactor-generated fission neutron field at the Argonne National Laboratory (USA). Radioprotectors were present before, during, and after irradiation for total periods of 35 min (WR-151326; 10 min pre-incubation) or 1 h (WR-1065; 30 min pre-incubation). Bioavailability of WR-1065 and WR-151326 in extracellular medium under experimental conditions simulating those of the transformation experiments was studied by measuring oxidation rates in the presence of attached C3H/10T½ cells in plateau and ex...

Although moderate to high-dose ionizing radiation exposure is an established risk factor for breast cancer, the effect of low-dose radiation exposure has not been clarified by epidemiological data. We evaluated the effect of low-dose radiation from medical procedures on risk of breast cancer overall and by joint estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status in 1,742 population-based case patients aged 20–49 years and 441 control subjects identified from neighbourhoods of case patients in Los Angeles County. After excluding radiation exposures in the 5 years prior to case’s diagnosis or control’s initial household contact date we found an elevated breast cancer risk among women who reported having had multiple chest X-rays (Ptrend = 0.0007) or 7 or more mammograms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.95–3.42). Risk was also increased among women who received dental X-rays without lead apron protection before age 20 years (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.13–2.90). Women, who had their first exposure to these medical radiation procedures during childhood, had a greater increase in risk than those who were first exposed at older ages. Although not statistically significantly different, risk estimates were somewhat stronger for nulliparous than for parous women. We found no effect modification by ER/PR status. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that low-dose ionizing radiation, and particularly exposures during childhood, increase breast cancer risk.

Cancer metabolism is an intergrative ensemble of disrupted enzyme kinetics and dysregulated metabolite utilization leading to loss of normal cellular function that is the result of a multi-factorial yet coordinated breakdown in vascular, immune, cell cycle, apoptotic, and ECM components. In actively metabolizing cancer, the switch from mitochondrial OXPHOS to anaerobic glycolysis is very well characterized and understood. Global cellular changes in response to metabolic switch have either been overlooked or not been primary interest or relevance to cancer metabolism. We describe a novel systems biology/engineering approach encompassing cell models that are conditioned under various oncogenic perturbations or environments and then coupled with functional bioenergetic read out such as employing the XF24 Seahorse Bioscience analyzer, ATP assays, and ROS production. The OCR and ECAR measurements generated by XF24 analyzer enabled quantifying the switch from aerobic to the anerobic mode of energy metabolism. Cellular profiles were captured in the form of multi-omic (proteomic, genomic, proteomic) signatures using high-throughput mass spectrometry based protocols. Analyses were performed on oncogenic breast, prostate, liver, pancreatic, skin (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma) and were compared to normal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, hepatocytes, kidney cells, adipocytes, and human aortic and endothelial cells. High throughput data cascades from various cancer states were integrated with the metabolic data from the XF24 analyzer using an AI-based data mining platform to generate causal network based on bayesian models (REFS™ model). The output enables the understanding of differential mechanisms that drive glycolysis and mitochondrial OXPHOS in a cancer versus normal environment. Further validation of prominent hub of activity as they partake as key drivers of metabolic end points by siRNA knockdown experiments followed by measurement using the XF24 analyzer confirmed the relevance of these hubs in cancer metabolism and their relevance as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for diagnostics development. The data output presented herein strongly suggest that the Interrogative Biology® platform is a key tool in deciphering differential network analysis pertinent to disease pathophysiology and bioenergetics. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4933. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4933

(2001). Mortimer M. Elkind, PhD, 25 October 1922 - 10 December 2000. International Journal of Radiation Biology: Vol. 77, No. 12, pp. 1219-1220.

Using V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells grown in culture we have examined the lethal effects of fast neutrons from the Fermilab therapy facility as a function of depth in a water phantom. Exposures and dosimetry were performed from 3 to 24 cm deep in the phantom along the central axis of the neutron beam, using various collimator configurations. The results indicate that the relative biological effect (RBE), using 60Co gamma rays as the standard radiation, varies with depth in the neutron beam. Starting from d-max (approx. 3 cm), the RBE appears to decrease continuously with depth. At 24 cm deep, the relative effectiveness is 10-15% lower than at 3 cm deep. There appears to be no systematic variation of relative effectiveness with shape or size of collimator. If a hydrogenous filter is added before the beam passes into the water phantom, the variation with depth is greatly reduced.

Both induction of cell transformation and killing were examined with Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) fibroblasts exposed to low doses of JANUS fission-spectrum neutrons delivered at high (10.3 cGy/min) and low (0.43 and 0.086 cGy/min) dose rates. Second-passage cells were irradiated in mass cultures, then cloned over feeder cells. Morphologically transformed colonies were identified 8-10 days later. Cell killing was independent of dose rate, but the yield of transformation was greater after low-dose-rate irradiations. Decreasing the neutron dose-rate from 10.3 to 0.086 cGy/min resulted in a two- to threefold increase in the yield of transformation for neutron exposures below 50 cGy, and enhancement which was consistently observed in repetitive experiments in different radiosensitive SHE cell preparations. 43 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

SummaryThe induction of a tumour-associated antigen in a human cell hybrid line (HeLa × skin fibroblast) following exposure to fission neutrons of average energy 0·85 MeV (Janus reactor, Argonne National Laboratory) at two dose rates, 0·086 and 10·3 cGy/min, has been examined. The dose-response data obtained indicate the lower dose rate to be 2·9-fold more effective than the higher in inducing expression of the tumour-associated antigen, while there was no significant dose-rate effect in terms of cell killing. These results are qualitatively in agreement with previous observations using neutrons from the Janus reactor for the neoplastic transformation of C3H10T½ cells and Syrian hamster embryo cells.

The response of Chinese hamster cells (V79-MI2G) to multiple, low doses of filtered mid-UV radiation (wavelengths longer than 300 nm) were examined over an exposure period of 30 days. Cell survival and the induction of mutation at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) locus using resistance to 6-thioguanine (TG) were the endpoints in this study. With increasing total accumulated dose given at 500 J/m2/day as a single short exposure, an increased resistance to cell killing was observed. This increase in resistance to cell killing was accompanied by a gradual decrease in sensitivity to the induction of mutants resistant to 6-TG. Above total accumulated doses of 5000 J/m2 the frequency of 6-TG resistance did not increase. After multiple doses of filtered mid-UV radiation the cells became more resistant to subsequent challenges with acute doses of far-UV, mid-UV or filtered mid-UV. The increased resistance to the cell killing action and to the mutation induction by UV suggests that during exposure to low, multiple doses of filtered mid-UV radiation the cells become adapted to the damaging effects of filtered mid-UV radiation.

Fibroblasts cultured from skin biopsies of patients with AIDS and Kaposi's sarcoma were found to be more radiosensitive than fibroblasts from non-HIV-infected-sources. This supports clinical observations of overt sensitivity to radiotherapy in some AIDS patients with Kaposi's sarcoma.

Since our original observation that low-dose, low-dose-rate JANUS neutrons produced more transformation in C3H 10T1/2 cells than equivalent doses at high dose rate (Hill, Buonaguro, Myers, Han, and...

The interaction between ultraviolet light (UV-C) from germicidal lamps (254 nm) and near-ultraviolet light (UV-B) from Westinghouse Sun Lamps (290-345 nm) was studied in Chinese hamster V79 cells by measuring the effectiveness of combined exposures to induce the resistance to 6-thioguanine or to ouabain. Exposure of cells to a conditioning dose of UV-B (approximately 70% survival) results in significant inhibition of the induction by UV-C of cells resistant to ouabain. The inhibition is lost, however, if cells are incubated for 12 h at 37 degrees C between exposures. Inhibition is also observed when cells are preirradiated with a dose of UV-B filtered with polystyrene (300-345 nm) which, in itself, has no effect on cell killing. Conditioning exposures of unfiltered or filtered UV-B light do not inhibit the induction of 6-thioguanine-resistant cells by UV-C light, and the effects of UV-B and UV-C light are largely independent.

Using exponentially growing Chinese hamster V79 cells we studied the effect of anisotonic phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) treatment on the frequency of mutation following X-irradiation. Induction of mutants was studied at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase locus (HGPRT). When cells were X-irradiated and immediately followed by 0.5 M NaCl/PBS treatment for 20 min at 37 degrees C, cell survival was significantly decreased and a concomitant increase in the number of mutants was observed, indicating that postirradiation treatment with anisotonic salt solution caused conversions of potentially lethal damage and potentially mutagenic damage to lethal and mutagenic damage, respectively. The repair kinetics of potentially mutagenic damage expressible by 0.5 M NaCl/PBS after 5.86 Gy of X-rays were similar to those of potentially lethal damage. The repair of both types of damage was essentially complete within 40 min after X-irradiation.

The effect of hypertonic salt treatment on the repair of potentially lethal damage and potentially mutagenic damage in X-irradiated asynchronous and synchronous human diploid fibroblasts (IMR91) have been studied. Resistance to 6-thioguanine was used for the mutagenic end point. When cells in late-S-phase were treated with hypertonic salt solution immediately after X-irradiation, both cell killing and mutation induction were enhanced, as compared to X-irradiation alone. This suggests that X-irradiation of cells in late S phase induces both potentially lethal damage and potentially mutagenic damage and that both are sensitive to hypertonic salt solution. When cells were allowed 2 h for repair after exposure to X-rays, both types of damage were completely repaired. Almost the same results were obtained with asynchronous cells. These results are discussed in terms of the relationship between radiation damage leading to cell lethality and mutagenesis.

(1980). Neoplastic Transformation of 10T1/2 Cells by 60Co γ-rays: Evidence of Repair of Damage at Reduced Dose Rate. International Journal of Radiation Biology and Related Studies in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine: Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 585-589.

SummaryThe neoplastic transformation of C3H 10T1/2 cells induced by fission-spectrum neutrons delivered at a high dose rate is linear up to 40 cGy. Reducing the dose rate increases the frequency of transformation in the low dose region. At a dose rate of 0·086 cGy min−1, the initial part of the induction curve remains linear but it has a slope 9-fold greater than the initial part of the curve at a high dose rate.

The incidences of neoplastic transformation induced by /sup 60/Co ..gamma..-rays in exponentially growing mouse embryo 10T1/2 cells were measured following acute and protracted exposures. Delivery of /sup 60/Co ..gamma..-rays at a low dose rate (0.1, 0.5, 2.5 rad/min) compared with a high dose rate (100 rad/min) results in appreciable, dose rate dependent reductions in cell killing and, independent of the effect on cell survival, reduces significantly the incidence of neoplastic transformation. Exposure of exponentially growing 10T1/2 cells to a dose of ..gamma..-rays in five equal daily fractions also significantly reduces transformation frequency, compared with delivery in a single dose, throughout the dose range examined (25 to 300 rads). The initial parts of the induction curves are fitted quite well by a linear dose dependence. The slopes of the regression lines for multifractionation delivery or irradiation at 0.1 rad/min, are one-third and one-half, respectively, of those for single exposures at a high dose rate. Increasing the interfraction interval up to 48 hours, or reduction of the dose per fraction further reduce incidence of neoplastic transformation. We conclude that protracted exposures of low LET radiation result in a net error-free repair of subtransformation damage.

Our data with both low- and high-LET radiations are qualitatively similar to results obtained in vivo. This is evident, for example, in the reductions in cell transformation for protracted exposures of ..gamma..-rays. The consistencies between our results with cells and the data of others with animals lend support to Gray's hypothesis that tumorigenesis is the net effect of a low probability inductive process, and a high probability killing process. An important prediction can be made when spontaneous frequency is appreciable (e.g., 43% in the case of reticulum cell sarcoma in RFM mice). For small doses, tumorigenesis would drop provided that: (a) the cells responsible for the spontaneous incidence are present at the time of exposure; and (b) the progenitor cells of the tumor are not resistant to cell killing.

The scintillation yield of rare-earth doped LaF3 nanoparticles (NPs) was experimentally measured. Taken together with evidence of FRET between NPs and covalently bound photosensitizer molecules, this suggests a route to combine radiation and photodynamic therapy.

Chinese hamster V79 cells (subline M12G) were exposed repeatedly to fractionated doses of germicidal 254 nm light (far-uv) at $6\ {\rm J}\cdot {\rm m}^{-2}/\text{fraction}/\text{day}$ or sunlight-simulating 290-330 nm (mid-uv) at $150\ {\rm J}\cdot {\rm m}^{-2}/\text{fraction}/\text{day}$ and sensitivities to cell killing action and mutation of far-uv and mid-uv were examined. As the number of exposure fractions increased, the cell cultures became resistant to cell killing induced by both far-uv and mid-uv. Increases in both D0 and $D_{{\rm q}}$ were observed. Treatment with exposures of $6\ {\rm J}\cdot {\rm m}^{-2}$ far-uv is more efficient in yielding cell cultures that are resistant than exposures of $150\ {\rm J}\cdot {\rm m}^{-2}$ mid-uv. In contrast to the cells exposed to repeated far-uv, the cells exposed to repeated mid-uv were relatively more resistant to cell killing effects of mid-uv than ...

We have measured gamma-ray-induced neoplastic transformation in C3H10T1/2 mouse embryo cells irradiated at an average 10 cGy/day throughout the useful life span of these cells for transformation studies. At cumulative total doses of 50, 150, 300, and 450 cGy, samples of cells were assayed for cell survival and neoplastic transformation with or without the administration of 0.1 micrograms/ml of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) starting 24 h after the irradiation. The results indicate that, at a dose rate of 10 cGy/day, the rate of induction of neoplastic transformation is reduced by a factor of thirteen compared to that at 100 cGy/min. Still, frequencies above the background level are observed. These results are consistent with previous data which, at 144 cGy/day (0.1 cGy/min), showed that radiation-induced initiation events could be repaired during exposure, thus reducing the frequency of transformation from that observed at 100 cGy/min [A. Han et al., Cancer Res. 40, 3328-3332 (1980)]. Although the addition of TPA after the delivery of a particular dose at 10 cGy/day produced a significant increase in the frequency of neoplastic transformation, the degree of enhancement was less than after higher-dose-rate exposures [C.K. Hill et al., Radiat. Res. 109, 347-351 (1987)]. These results indicate that during 7 weeks of exposure, the repair of radiation-induced initiation was extensive but not complete, and suggest that a significant part of the damage persists which can be promoted by TPA. These observations support the inference that initiation and promotion are not tightly coupled and are probably independent processes.

Following mid to large doses of X rays, or of fission spectrum neutrons, the repair of potentially lethal damage in V79 Chinese hamster cells can be inhibited by anisotonic phosphate-buffered saline or by medium containing 90% D/sub 2/O. The foregoing post-treatments do not affect the viability of unirradiated cells. Using single synchronized cells irradiated in late S-phase, the most resistant phase of the cell cycle, repair of potentially lethal damage in late S-phase, the most resistant phase of the cell cycle, repair of potentially lethal damage in the single-hit, initially exponential, or small-dose part of the survival curve was examined. The use of synchronized cells avoids misinterpretations due to population heterogeneity. The slope of the small-dose, exponential region of the neutron survival curve is much steeper than that of the x-ray survival curve. Even so, it is demonstrated with post-treatments consisting of hypertonic phosphate-buffered saline, medium containing D/sub 2/O,adiation is connected with their proliferation but not with the migration out from lymphoid organs.