title: A Novel In Vivo Protocol for Molecular Study of Radiation-Induced Fibrosis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiation-induced fibrosis is a common complication for patients following head and neck cancer treatment. This study presents a novel minimally invasive protocol for molecular study of fibrosis in the stromal tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with radiation-induced fibrosis in the head and neck who were at least 6 months post treatment received submental core needle biopsies, followed by molecular processing and quantification of gene expression for 14 select pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes. Control biopsies from the upper arm were obtained from the same subjects. Patients were followed up at 1 and 2 weeks to monitor for safety and adverse outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six subjects were enrolled and completed the study. No subjects experienced adverse outcomes or complication. An 18 gauge core biopsy needle with a 10 mm notch inserted for up to 60 seconds was needed. Subcutaneous tissue yielded 3 ng of RNA, amplified to 6 µg of cDNA, allowing for adequately sensitive quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis of approximately 28 genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the safety and utility of a novel technique for the molecular study of fibrosis in head and neck cancer patients. Longitudinal studies of patients undergoing radiation therapy will allow for identification of molecular targets that contribute to the process of fibrosis in the head and neck.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA gintas@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Gintas P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Krisciunas
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Arthritis Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trojanowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Grillone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Arthritis Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Langmore
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: biopsy; clinical protocols; fibrosis; head and neck neoplasms; radiation effects