title: Prediction of radiation-induced toxicity by in vitro radiosensitivity of lymphocytes in prostate cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify predictive assays for radiation-induced toxicity in prostate cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients have been surveyed prospectively before and up to 16 months after radiotherapy using a validated questionnaire. Subgroups of 25 patients with minor and larger score changes, respectively, were selected for γ-H2AX, G2 and Annexin V assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher spontaneous chromatid aberration yield (HR: 1.46 [95% CI: 1.02-2.09]; p = 0.04), higher levels of early apoptotic (HR: 1.12 [95% CI: 1.01-1.24]; p = 0.04) and late apoptotic and necrotic (HR: 1.10 [95% CI: 0.99-1.23]; p = 0.08) lymphocytes 24 h post-irradiation were found in patients with a bowel bother score decrease greater than 20 points more than 1 year after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chromatid aberration and apoptosis/necrosis assays appear to be suitable for the prediction of radiation-induced toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinkawa
authors.affiliation: Research Center Juelich GmbH, Department of Safety & Radiation Protection, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brzozowska
authors.affiliation: Research Center Juelich GmbH, Department of Safety & Radiation Protection, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kriehuber
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eble
authors.affiliation: Research Center Juelich GmbH, Department of Safety & Radiation Protection, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: conformal radiotherapy; individual radiosensitivity; predictive assays; prostate neoplasm; quality of life; toxicity