Dates
General information
Irradiation of target tissues with picosecond pulses of accelerated electron beams may result in biological effects which do not occur under conventional radiation therapy. However, this type of radiation is poorly studied hindering its application in radiotherapy. Ionizing radiation induces genetic changes such as telomere attrition, gene mutations and changes of their expression as well as disruption of mtDNA. Alterations in the TP53 tumor suppressor and the telomerase (hTERT) genes expressions are frequent in irradiated cells influencing radiotherapy outcomes. Previously we demonstrated higher sensitivity of cancer cells to irradiation of accelerated electrons compared to normal cells. Here we will continue our studies by analyzing telomere instability, TP53 and hTERT genes damage, repair and expression, and cell-free mtDNA in normal and cancer cells using a 3D human skin model which supports a phenotype close to native human skin, and MCF-7, MRC5, p53 proficient LN-229 and p53-deficient LN-308 2D cell cultures for evaluation of radiobiological effects of laser-driven electron bunches of AREAL accelerator (Armenia) using Q-FISH, Comet-FISH and qPCR methods. Based on in vitro results we will design in vivo studies for application in the future.
