title: Early Cellular Response to Radiation in Human Vocal Fold Fibroblasts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiation therapy is a common treatment strategy for laryngeal carcinoma. However, radiation is not without adverse side effects, especially toward healthy vocal fold tissue, which can lead to long-term impairments in vocal function. The objective of this preliminary study was to investigate early responses of healthy human vocal fold fibroblasts (VFF) to radiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  VFF were exposed to a single or fractionated dose radiation scheme. Nonradiated VFF served as controls. Morphology of radiated and control VFF was subjectively examined. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the effect of radiation on extracellular matrix and inflammatory-related genes. VFF viability was investigated using a LIVE/DEAD and clonogenic assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single or fractioned dose radiated VFF were morphologically indistinguishable from control VFF. No significant differences in gene expression were observed following either radiation scheme and as compared to controls. Clonogenic assay revealed reduced VFF viability following the fractionated but not single dose scheme. No changes in viability were detected using the LIVE/DEAD assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present one of the first investigations to evaluate early responses of healthy VFF to radiation. Findings will contribute to a growing body of literature seeking to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying voice changes following radiation therapy for laryngeal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erickson-DiRenzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Enos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA thibeault@surgery.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Thibeault
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins
keywords: cell viability; fibroblast; gene expression; radiation; vocal fold