Wenqing Liu, Jan Willem Bruggeman, Qijing Lei, Ans M. M. van Pelt, Jan Koster & Geert Hamer

Germline specific genes increase DNA double-strand break repair and radioresistance in lung adenocarcinoma cells

In a study at the University of Amsterdam, researchers examine the effects of ionizing radiation (IR) on various cell lines using clonogenic assays. Cells were exposed to 0-8 Gy of IR in the CellRad system and monitored for colony formation over 14 days. Results showed the CellRad system's precision in delivering consistent radiation doses, enabling accurate analysis of cell survival and replication. Additionally, the CellRad system facilitated immunofluorescent staining of γ-H2AX and RAD51, providing insights into DNA damage and repair processes.

Seyed Mahbod Baharnoori; Mohammad Soleimani; Hamed Massoumi; Mohammad Javad Ashraf; Madhurima Chaudhuri; Elmira Jalilian; Ali R Djalilian

A deep dive into radiation keratopathy; going beyond the current frontiers

in a recent study aiming to create a mouse model of radiation keratopathy to explore its pathophysiology and potential treatments. Conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 36 mice were irradiated with doses from 5.00 to 30.00 Gray. Results showed dose-dependent increases in corneal neovascularization, opacity, cellular senescence, and nerve damage, establishing a strong model for future research.

Fanghui Chen, Chris Tang, Fan Yan, Asari Ekpenyong, Richard Qin, Jin Xie, Fatemeh Momen-Heravi, Nabil F. Saba, Yong Teng

HSP90 inhibition suppresses tumor glycolytic flux to potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

This research focused on improving antitumor immunity by inhibiting HSP90, a protein that supports tumor growth. By using ganetespib, an HSP90 inhibitor, researchers were able to block key enzymes involved in tumor metabolism, enhancing the immune response against the tumor.

Canan Koksal Akbas, Federica Vurro, Claudio Fiorino, Cesare Cozzarini, Francesco Cavaliere, Paolo Milani, Sara Broggi, Antonella Del Vecchio, Nadia Di Muzio, Carlo Tacchetti, Antonello Enrico Spinelli

Preclinical photon minibeam radiotherapy using a custom collimator: Dosimetry characterization and preliminary in-vivo results on a glioma model

The purpose of this study is to investigate the dosimetric characteristics of a collimator for minibeam radiotherapy (MBRT) with film dosimetry and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The outcome of MBRT with respect to conventional RT using a glioma preclinical model was also evaluated.

Irma Telarovic, Carmen S. M. Yong, Lisa Kurz, Irene Vetrugno, Sabrina Reichl, Alba Sanchez Fernandez, Hung-Wei Cheng, Rona Winkler, Matthias Guckenberger, Anja Kipar, Burkhard Ludewig & Martin Pruschy

Delayed tumor-draining lymph node irradiation preserves the efficacy of combined radiotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade in models of metastatic disease

Cancer resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors motivated investigations into leveraging the immunostimulatory properties of radiotherapy to overcome immune evasion and to improve treatment response. However, clinical benefits of radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations have been modest. Routine concomitant tumor-draining lymph node irradiation (DLN IR) might be the culprit.

Spencer S. Watson, Benoit Duc, Ziqi Kang, Axel de Tonnac, Nils Eling, Laure Font, Tristan Whitmarsh, Matteo Massara, iMAXT Consortium, Bernd Bodenmiller, Jean Hausser & Johanna A. Joyce

Microenvironmental reorganization in brain tumors following radiotherapy and recurrence revealed by hyperplexed immunofluorescence imaging

The tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in determining response to treatment. This involves a series of interconnected changes in the cellular landscape, spatial organization, and extracellular matrix composition. However, assessing these alterations simultaneously is challenging from a spatial perspective, due to the limitations of current high-dimensional imaging techniques and the extent of intratumoral heterogeneity over large lesion areas. In this study, we introduce a spatial proteomic workflow termed Hyperplexed Immunofluorescence Imaging (HIFI) that overcomes these limitations. HIFI allows for the simultaneous analysis of > 45 markers in fragile tissue sections at high magnification, using a cost-effective high-throughput workflow.

Jun Zhao, Shujun Li, Lu Xu, Chengjun Li, Qi Li, Youssef Dewer, Kongming Wu

Effects of X-Ray Irradiation on Biological Parameters and Induced Sterility of Ephestia elutella: Establishing the Optimum Irradiation Dose and Stage

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used for the inundative release of sterile mass-reared males to control lepidopteran pests. SIT based on X-ray irradiation is an eco-friendly alternative to chemical control. However, its use in Ephestia elutella, a stored tobacco pest currently controlled with insecticides, is poorly explored. This study aims to investigate the effects of X-ray irradiation on E. elutella to determine the optimal sterilizing dose and processing developmental stage for improving SIT application.

Ines M Costa, George Firth, Jana Kim, Giuseppe Schettino, Gilbert O Fruhwirth, Samantha Y.A. Terry

In vitro and preclinical systematic dose-effect studies of Auger electron- and beta particle-emitting radionuclides and external beam radiation for cancer treatment

Despite a rise in clinical use of radiopharmaceutical therapies, the biological effects of radionuclides and their relationship with absorbed radiation dose are poorly understood. Here, we set out to define this relationship for Auger electron-emitters [99mTc]TcO4 and [123I]I, and β−-particle-emitter [188Re]ReO4. Studies were carried out using genetically-modified cells that permitted direct radionuclide comparisons.

Roarke A. Kamber, Yoko Nishiga, Bhek Morton, Allison M. Banuelos, Amira A. Barkal, Felipe Vences-Catalán, Mingxin Gu, Daniel Fernandez, Jose A.Seoane, David Yao, Katherine Liu, Sijie Lin, Kaitlyn Spees, Christina Curtis, Livnat Jerby-Arnon, Irving L. Weissman, Julien Sage, Michael C. Bassik

Inter-cellular CRISPR screens reveal regulators of cancer cell phagocytosis

Monoclonal antibody therapies targeting tumor antigens drive cancer cell elimination in large part by triggering macrophage phagocytosis of cancer cells1–7. However, cancer cells evade phagocytosis using mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Here we develop a platform for unbiased identification of factors that impede antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) using complementary genome-wide CRISPR knockout and overexpression screens in both cancer cells and macrophages. In cancer cells, beyond known factors such as CD47, we identify many regulators of susceptibility to ADCP, including the poorly characterized enzyme adipocyte plasma membrane-associated protein (APMAP).

L.M. Smith, H.E. Greenwood, W.E. Tyrrell, R.S. Edwards, V. de Santis, F. Baark, G. Firth, M. Tanc, S. Y. A. Terry, A. Herrmann, R. Southworth, T. H. Witney

The chicken chorioallantoic membrane as a low-cost, high-throughput model for cancer imaging

Mouse models are invaluable tools for radiotracer development and validation. They are, however, expensive, low throughput, and are constrained by animal welfare considerations. Here, we assessed the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as an alternative to mice for preclinical cancer imaging studies.