β-radiating radionuclides in cancer treatment, novel insight into promising approach

Abstract

Targeted radionuclide therapy, known as molecular radiotherapy is a novel therapeutic module in cancer medicine. β-radiating radionuclides have definite impact on target cells via interference in cell cycle and particular signalings that can lead to tumor regression with minimal off-target effects on the surrounding tissues. Radionuclides play a remarkable role not only in apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest, but also in the amelioration of other characteristics of cancer cells. Recently, application of novel β-radiating radionuclides in cancer therapy has been emerged as a promising therapeutic modality. Several investigations are ongoing to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of β-radiating elements in cancer medicine. Based on the radiation dose, exposure time and type of the β-radiating element, different results could be achieved in cancer cells. It has been shown that β-radiating radioisotopes block cancer cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. However, physical characteristics of the β-radiating element (half-life, tissue penetration range, and maximum energy) and treatment protocol determine whether tumor cells undergo cell cycle arrest, apoptosis or both and to which extent. In this review, we highlighted novel therapeutic effects of β-radiating radionuclides on cancer cells, particularly apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest.

Rhenium Perrhenate (188ReO4) Induced Apoptosis and Reduced Cancerous Phenotype in Liver Cancer Cells

“…Selective radionuclide therapy, which contains yttrium-90 microspheres, iodine-131 monoclonal antibody, and radioactive lipiodol, is an effective local treatment for HCC [ 5 ]. Radioisotopes that continuously emit β-rays can destruct tumor cells by frequent low-dose radiation after intra-tumoral injection [ 2 ].…”

“…Radioisotopes that continuously emit β-rays can destruct tumor cells by frequent low-dose radiation after intra-tumoral injection [ 2 ]. Rhenium-188 ( 188 Re) is an easily-available generator-derived radioisotope for therapeutic application that emits β-particles (2.12 MeV, 71.1% and 1.965 MeV, 25.6%) and image-able gammas (155 keV, 15.1%) [ 5 ]. 188 Re has been used to prepare therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for the management of different diseases, such as bone metastasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and primary cancers [ 5 ].…”

“…This has a positive effect on the elimination of malignant cells [ 13 ]. Activation of p53 and BAX following exposure to β−emission is mediated by DNA damage and apoptosis induction [ 5 ]. However, the effects of 188 ReO 4 on apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and in vitro and in vivo growth of cancerous HCC cells have not been well studied.…”

Advanced therapeutic modalities in hepatocellular carcinoma: Novel insights

“…The first application of radionuclides as therapeutic agents was demonstrated in the 1940s, when iodine‐131 ( 131 I) was prescribed for treating thyroid diseases. Recent advances in radionuclide production and labelling as well as improvements in the identification of appropriate and specific molecular targets make the TRT an attractive approach for cancer treatment 11 …”

“…Recent advances in radionuclide production and labelling as well as improvements in the identification of appropriate and specific molecular targets make the TRT an attractive approach for cancer treatment. 11 …”