title: Pre-clinical research in small animals using radiotherapy technology--a bidirectional translational approach.
abstract: For translational cancer research, pre-clinical in-vivo studies using small animals have become indispensable in bridging the gap between in-vitro cell experiments and clinical implementation. When setting up such small animal experiments, various biological, technical and methodical aspects have to be considered. In this work we present a comprehensive topical review based on relevant publications on irradiation techniques used for pre-clinical cancer research in mice and rats. Clinical radiotherapy treatment devices for the application of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy as well as dedicated research irradiation devices are feasible for small animal irradiation depending on the animal model and the experimental goals. In this work, appropriate solutions for the technological transfer of human radiation oncology to small animal radiation research are summarised. Additionally, important information concerning the experimental design is provided such that reliable and clinically relevant results can be attained.
authors.affiliation: OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: Falk.Tillner@OncoRay.de.
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tillner
authors.affiliation: OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Prasad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thute
authors.affiliation: OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bütof
authors.affiliation: OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany; OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Radiooncology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Mechthild
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Institute of Radiooncology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Enghardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D051379:Mice; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Kleintiere; Krebsforschung; Pre-clinical research; Präklinische Forschung; bildgeführte Strahlentherapie (IGRT); cancer research; image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT); small animals; translational research; translationale Forschung