Dose-effect relation of interstitial low-dose-rate radiation (Ir192) in an animal tumor model

Pre-clinical research in small animals using radiotherapy technology – a bidirectional translational approach

“…Surgical sutures and clips are suitable for wound care [100,101]. Buttons and strips support the fixation of an applicator or template [102,105]. Furthermore, an Elizabethan collar [104] or a restraint jacket [113] may restrict the movement of animals.…”

“…Afterwards, the applicator is loaded with LDR sources or connected to a clinical afterloader for HDR source placement. This basic method has been frequently used to investigate heterotopic tumour models [101][102][103][104][105] and radiation-induced effects in the rectal wall [106,107], spinal cord [108,109] or mandible [110]. For local irradiation of an orthotopic glioblastoma, an inhouse built plastic guide screw is implanted into the skull containing a central canal to inject tumour cells and to accommodate an LDR seed [111].…”

“…Due to the steep dose gradients, in-situ measurements are a practical dosimetric option. Such experiments have been carried out (1) by implanting TLDs into heterotopic tumours or placing them on their surface [102,105], (2) by implanting TLDs into the removed spinal canal of a euthanized rat [112] or (3) by wrapping radiochromic films around an intrarectal applicator prior to insertion [106].…”