Investigation of new cytogenetic biomarkers specific to high-LET radiation using in vivo and in vitro exposed human lymphocytes

Abstract

Purpose: To find detectable cytogenetic biomarkers that can offer information about the radiation quality of in vivo exposure retrospectively.

Materials and methods: Chromosome-type aberrations of peripheral lymphocytes of uterine cancer patients that received internal γ- and external X-ray therapy or carbon beam therapy and of victims severely exposed to neutrons and γ-rays in a criticality accident that occurred in Tokai-mura, Japan were analysed. Data obtained from in vitro irradiation experiments using ⁶⁰Co γ-rays and 10 MeV neutrons were compared with the in vivo exposure data.

Results: The ratio of acentric rings to dicentric chromosomes (termed RaD ratio) and that of excess fragments to dicentrics (termed EfD ratio) showed significant (p < 0.05) differences between the two groups of cancer patients, and these ratios for accidental victims were in between the values of the two groups of cancer patients. The in vitro studies using doses equivalent to 1 – 3 Gy of γ-rays have confirmed that the EfD ratios were increased with the high LET (linear energy transfer) and RaD ratios decreased.

Conclusion: The present data show that the RaD and EfD ratios can be used as cytogenetic biomarkers of exposure to high-LET radiation at least within a few years of exposure.

Keywords:

• Biodosimetry
• cytogenetics
• heavy ion irradiation
• lymphocytes
• neutrons