Background:In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to examine the changes in morphology of red blood cells (RBCs) and to investigate the nanoparticles (NPs) found on their surface in cervical cancer (CC) patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT).Methods and Results: We obtained smears of venous blood from 12 CC patients at the start, midway and at the end of external beam RT and then midway and at the end of brachytherapy. It was found that in CC patients, the number of RBCs with abnormal morphology increased and NPs appeared on their surface. During RT, the total number of abnormally shaped RBCs and the number and size of NPs increased. The RBC diameter was 8.38±0.36 μm in the control group and 9.41±0.47 μm in CC patients. The average diameter of NPs on the RBC surface was 69.91±12.15 nm and their average height 23.75±3.70 nm. After RT, the morphology of RBCs was restored, and the formation of NPs decreased. Conclusion:The changes observed could serve as the basis for developing efficacy indicators of cancer radiation therapy.

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Background: To create a test for the early detection of cervical cancer (CC), we conducted exploratory studies on detecting HPV genes and genes of the human β-globin locus in plasma (Pl) and RBC suspension (RBCsus) samples from patients with newly detected CC (NDCC). Methods and Results: Smears of venous blood containing K3-EDTA from five anonymous patients aged from 45 to 55 years (residents of Yakutia), with NDCC were obtained. Three types of blood component samples were prepared – plasma (Pl), red blood cell (RBC) suspension (RBCsus), and the erythrocyte fraction treated with trypsin (RBCsus-Try). To detect circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in NDCC patients, we studied the presence of genes corresponding to the HPV L1 protein region and genes of the human β-globin locus by real-time PCR (qPCR) using appropriate primers. The genes of β-globin locus and HPV L1 were detected in Pl of NDCC patients in 20% of cases, and in RBCsus in 60% of cases. The amplified gene products using primers were present in RBCsus-Try in only one patient (20% of cases). In patients with uncertain amplification, electrophoresis showed the absence of amplified products in Pl and their presence in RBCsus. Conclusion: In NDCC patients, HPV L1 and β-globin genes can be detected in both Pl and RBCsus. In addition, in RBC samples, these genes were detected more often than in plasma samples, and no absolute absence of amplification products was observed in RBC samples. The research needs to be continued.

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