title: Ablation of experimental colon cancer by intratumoral 224Radium-loaded wires is mediated by alpha particles released from atoms which spread in the tumor and can be augmented by chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We developed (224)Ra-loaded wires, which release by recoil alpha emitting nuclei into solid tumors and cause tumor cell killing. This research examined if the major damage was inflicted by alpha particles emitted from these atoms or by direct gamma and beta emissions from the inserted wires. We also examined the efficacy of this treatment against colon cancer in combination with chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse colon carcinomas (CT-26 xenografts), treated by intra-tumoral radioactive wires loaded with (224)Ra atoms were monitored for effects on tumor growth, intratumoral tissue damage and distribution of alpha emitting atoms. The effects were compared with those of (224)Ra-loaded wires coated with poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), which blocks atom recoil. Similar experiments were performed with radioactive wires combined with systemic 5-FU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (224)Ra-loaded wires inhibited tumor growth and formed necrotic areas inside the tumor. PMMA coated wires did not inhibit tumor growth, and caused minor intratumoral damage. Autoradiography images of tumors treated with (224)Ra-loaded wires revealed a spread of alpha emitters over several mm, whereas PMMA-coated wires showed no such spread. Injection of 5-FU with (224)Ra-loaded wires augmented tumor growth retardation and cure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (224)Ra-loaded wires ablate solid tumors by the release of alpha-particle emitting atoms inside the tissue, an effect that can be enhanced by combining this method with chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Shira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reitkopf-Brodutch
authors.forename: Hila
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Confino
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Tomer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cooks
authors.forename: Margalit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Efrati
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arazi
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rath-Wolfson
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marshak
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kelson
authors.forename: Yona
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keisari
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011883:Radium / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005472:Fluorouracil; D011883:Radium
keywords: 224Ra; 5-FU; Colon cancer; brachytherapy; chemotherapy; radiotherapy