title: Radiation effects on DNA content of cervical cancer cells: A rapid evaluation of radiation sensitivity by laser scanning cytometry.
abstract: Since uterine cervical cancer is regarded as a radiosensive tumor, ionizing radiation is the most frequently used treatment modality against the disease. Although the crucial end-point is radiation-induced cell death, the tumors are not equally sensitive to radiation. Determining the criteria that may be used to predict tumor radiosensitivity is of importance; however, little success has been achieved thus far. In radioresistant cases the therapeutic strategy should be changed, thereby avoiding ineffective or unnecessary treatment. Furthermore, identification of the underlying molecular processes leading to radioresistance may lead to novel radiosensitising strategies. Cervical smears were obtained from seven patients with locally advanced cervical cancer following each radiotherapy, and the radiation-induced damage of cancer tissue was examined by routine cytology. Since the formation of DNA double-strand breaks is considered critical for the cytocidal effect of radiation therapy, the molecular changes of the neoplastic cells were also assessed by laser scanning cytometry (LSC). Radiation-induced morphological changes of cancer cells were evident at a dose of 7.2 Gy, whereas increased DNA content (or DNA index) was observed prior to the onset of morphological changes. Molecular change was detected earlier than the morphological change of the irradiated cancer cells, indicating the feasibility of LSC in predicting the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka ; Department of Gynecology, Oita Prefecture Saiseikai Hita Hospital, Hita, Oita.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujiyoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka.
authors.forename: Kimio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ushijima
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka.
authors.forename: Kouichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka.
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiyoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kurume University Hospital, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kakuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Sumiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsunehisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaku
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Oita Prefecture Saiseikai Hita Hospital, Hita, Oita.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka.
authors.forename: Toshiharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamura
keywords: DNA content; DNA index; cervical cancer; laser scanning cytometry; radiosensitivity