Application of Cherenkov radiation in tumor imaging and treatment.

Cherenkov radiation (CR) is the characteristic blue glow that is generated during radiotherapy or radioisotope decay. Its distribution and intensity naturally reflect the actual dose and field of radiotherapy and the location of radioisotope imaging agents in vivo. Therefore, CR can represent a potential in situ light source for radiotherapy monitoring and radioisotope-based tumor imaging. When used in combination with new imaging techniques, molecular probes or nanomedicine, CR imaging exhibits unique advantages (accuracy, low cost, convenience and fast) in tumor radiotherapy monitoring and imaging. Furthermore, photosensitive nanomaterials can be used for CR photodynamic therapy, providing new approaches for integrating tumor imaging and treatment. Here the authors review the latest developments in the use of CR in tumor research and discuss current challenges and new directions for future studies.

Cherenkov radiation (CR) is the characteristic blue glow that is generated during radiotherapy (a common treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells) or radioisotope decay (the process that emits radiation from radioisotopes). CR can be used for monitoring the dose and dose distribution of radiotherapy to prevent radiotherapy-related adverse events. In addition, radioisotope-induced CR can be used as a light source for locating the tumor region for tumor imaging. With a combination of imaging techniques, molecular probes and nanomedicine, CR exhibits huge potential and unique advantages (accuracy, low cost, convenience and fast) in tumor radiotherapy monitoring and imaging. Furthermore, some photosensitive nanomaterials have been developed to absorb CR to generate reactive oxygen species, which can result in cell death. This therapeutic strategy is known as CR photodynamic therapy. CR photodynamic therapy is available to integrate with radiotherapy or tumor imaging, providing new approaches for tumor diagnosis and treatment. Here the authors review the latest developments in the use of CR in tumor research and discuss current challenges and new directions for future studies.

The function of DKK2 in breast cancer and its molecular mechanism / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To study the expression and the function of DKK2 and to explore its potential mechanisms in breast cancer.Methods The expression of DKK2 was detected by RT-PCR in normal breast tissues and breast cancer cells.we have transfected DKK2 into breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7.The cells before transfection were used as control group and marked with Vector.The cells after transfection were used as experimental group and marked with DKK2.Furthermore by qRT-PCR and Western-blot,the expression of DKK2,Notch signaling pathway and related factors were analyzed.We also detected the function of DKK2 by cloning assay,Transwell assay and proliferation assay.Results No expression of DKK2 was found in breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 or MCF-7,with relatively high expression in normal breast tissue.The number of apoptotic cells was 2.57±1.18 before transfectionin in cell line MDA-MB-231,and 49.53±8.27 after transfection.The difference was statistically significant between the two groups (P＜0.005).The relative colony formation rate of MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF7 cells after transfection accounted for 20.44％ and 15.21％,respectively.The difference was statistically significant by t test.The number of apoptosis cells in MB231/DKK2 group was 49.53± 8.27 and that in MB231 / Vector group was 2.57±1.18.The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.005).The number of migrated cells in MB231/DKK2 group was 112.0±8.1 and that in MB231/Vector group was 178.0±12.0.The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.005).The mRNA expression of Notch 1 in group MB231/Vector was recorded as 1.The mRNA expression of JAG1 in MB231/DKK2 group was 0.2891.The difference was also statistically significant (P＜0.005).Conclusions Restored expression of DKK2 in silenced breast cells suppresses breast cancer cell proliferation and migration through repressing Notch signaling.DKK2-Notch signaling pathway may be its potential molecular mechanism to function in breast cancer.DKK2 may be one of the target genes for early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.