A single subexcitation-energy electron can induce a double-strand break in DNA modified by platinum chemotherapeutic drugs.

ABSTRACT: The sensitization of malignant cells to ionizing radiation is the clinical rationale for the use of platinum-drug-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for cancer treatment; however, the specific mechanisms of radiosensitization and their respective contributions still remain unknown. Biological mechanisms such as inhibition of DNA repair may contribute to the efficacy of CCRT; nevertheless, there is a dearth of information on the possible contribution of nanoscopic mechanisms to the generation of lethal DNA lesions, such as double-strand breaks (DSB). The present study demonstrates that the abundant near zero-eV (0.5 eV) electrons, created by ionizing radiation during radiotherapy, induce DSB in supercoiled plasmid DNA modified by platinum-containing anticancer drugs (Pt drugs), but n

SUBMITTER: Rezaee M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4623762 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature