A gen linked to radio sensitivity could help to improve radiotherapy treatment
The application of nuclear medicine, as in the case of radiotherapy, is being constantly renewed by scientific research. Thanks to the latest findings, it will be possible to improve and customize radiotherapy treatment by detecting the patient's level of radio sensitivity prior to treatment.
The results indicate that the detection of radio sensitivity of lymphocytes, along with the genetic polymorphisms associated to this radiosensibility, could be used to apply personalized radiotherapy
Research from scientists at the Cellular and Molecular Radiation Institute at France's Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), in cooperation with the Paris-Sud university and other international partners, have shown that there is a link between the expression of the gene known as TRAIL (TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand) used for therapeutic purposes due to its important role in the death of cancer cells, and the radio sensitivity of certain human T- lymphocytes, which are responsible for coordinating the response to cell immunity.
This research also shows a relationship between three genetic forms of TRAIL nd the radio sensitivity of T-lymphocytes. Lastly, two of these genetic forms of TRAIL are linked to serious skin complications in breast cancer patients that have received radiotherapy. The results indicate that the detection of radio sensitivity of lymphocytes, along with the genetic polymorphisms associated to this radiosensibility, could be used to apply personalized radiotherapy.
These results explain the correlation between the level of expression of TRAIL on T4EM lymphocytes and their radio sensitivity
Immune memory
T4EM lymphocytes, also known as "memory lymphocytes", are part of the memory in a person's immune system. Thanks to a simple radio sensitivity test on these cells in 375 individuals, it was shown that, without irradiation, the TRAIL gene was strongly expressed in the radiosensitive T4EM lymphocytes and weakly in radioresitant T4EM lymphocytes.
With their functional studies, scientists proved that TRAIL's protein receptor was activated after irradiation and that the interaction between TRAIL and its receptor killed the T4EM lymphocytes. These results explain the correlation between the level of expression of TRAIL on T4EM lymphocytes and their radio sensitivity.
A study of the genetic link between TRAIL and the radio sensitivity of T4EM lymphocytes has identified three unique nucleotid polymorphisms in this gen that are linked to the radio sensitivity of lymphocytes. This indicates that radio sensibility is genetically determined. Lastly, research on a group of 113 breast cancer patients that developed complications after radiotherapy showed a correlation between two of the polymorphisms of unique nucleotids in the TRAIL gene and the apparition of acute or subacute dermatitis post radiotherapy.
Greater efficiency and less side effects
This pioneer study shows that, thanks to cell radio sensitivity tests, genetics and nuclear medicine can co-operate to open the possibility of personalizing the dose of radio therapy administered for cancer treatment. This would help to improve the patient's health and also avoid some side effects as well as improve the treatment's efficiency.
Source: CEA
