Changes in Soluble Metabolites Induced in Tumour Cells by Gamma Rays and Proton Beams: A 1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry Vol. 99; no. 1-4; pp. 307 - 310
• Main Authors: M. Luciani, A., Rosi, A., Grande, S., Guidoni, L., V. Viti, L.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-06-2002
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Gamma Rays; Glutathione - metabolism; HeLa Cells - cytology; HeLa Cells - metabolism; HeLa Cells - radiation effects; Humans; Hydrogen; Kinetics; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods; Medical sciences; Protons; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a006791

Cultured HeLa cells have been irradiated with a single acute dose of either gamma rays (40 Gy) or low energy proton beams (20 Gy). 1H magnetic resonance spectra of perchloric acid extracts (PCA) prepared at different times after irradiation show an intensity decrease of signal from glutathione and a parallel increase of lactate signal. Intensity ratios of signals of glycerophosphorylcholine to that of phosphorylcholine increase with time after irradiation. Irradiating cells with gamma rays or proton beams at half a dose obtain effects of comparable extent. The present experiments indicate that relevant metabolic alterations take place in cells damaged by irradiation. Finally, these data represent a first indication that the relative biological efficiency of low energy proton beams with respect to gamma rays can reach a value of 2 as evidenced by cell metabolic impairment.