Use of radionuclides in cancer research and treatment

Abstract

Cancer occurs as a result of misregulation of cell growth, which appears to be a consequence of alteration in the function of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Ionising radiation has been used, since the discovery of X-rays in 1896 by Roentgen, both in cancer research and treatment of the disease. The main purpose of cancer research is to understand the molecular alterations involved in the development and progression of the disease in order to improve diagnosis and develop personalised therapies, by focusing on the features of the tumoral cell and the biological events associated to carcinogenesis. Radioisotopic techniques have been used routinely for in vitro research in the molecular and cellular biology of cancer for more than 20 years and are in the process of being substituted by alternative non-radioactive techniques. However in vivo techniques such as irradiation of cells in culture and/or experimental animal models and radioactive labelling are in development, due in part to advances in molecular imaging technologies. The objective of this review is to analyse in an integrative way the applications of ionising radiation in cancer research and therapy. It had been divided into two parts. The first one will approach the techniques applied to cancer research and the second will summarise how ionising radiation is applied to the treatment of neoplastic disease.

Systemic delivery and SPECT/CT in vivo imaging of 125I-labelled oncolytic adenoviral mutants in models of pancreatic cancer

“…Several radioactive labeling techniques of proteins and peptides with 125 I have been established that are routinely used to generate trace compounds with high specific activity including the Chloramine T, Iodogen and Bolton-Hunter methods 21,29,30 . While these labeling techniques rarely cause alterations of structure and function of proteins and peptides, application of the same conditions to biologically active viruses frequently result in detrimental effects to the viral life cycle with greatly reduced viral activity 22 .…”

“…Three key areas were investigated in the murine models: (1) the feasibility of radiolabelling adenoviral mutants; (2) the suitability of 125 I-labelled viruses for imaging and biodistribution studies; and (3) whether this is achievable without the need to conduct any further genetic alterations to the virus. A common, fast and easy method for radiolabelling of proteins involves incorporating 125 I into Tyr-residues which allow for sensitive imaging detection 21 . However, this method is typically incompatible with biologically active viruses because it is usually performed under non-physiological reaction conditions which include optimal pH and buffer compositions that greatly reduce viral potency 22 .…”

Basic Premises to Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy – Part 1

“…They have different mechanisms of radioactive decay, making them suitable for particular applications [26]. The most commonly used diagnostic tool involves radiometals which emit gamma rays.…”

Clinical Applications of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging in Medicine: Oncology, Brain Diseases and Cardiology

“…Interesting perspectives, not yet in clinical practice, are also connected with many other research proposals. These include permitting the evaluation of staminal cells and gene therapies [104][105][106][107], that are clinically useful such as radio compounds tracing free fatty acids, apoptosis/necrosis, and finally the active plaque [108][109][110][111][112].…”