Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40427210›Full record

ArticleCancers2025

Combinational Radiotherapies Improve Brain Cancer Treatment at High Dose Rates In Vitro.

Michael Valceski, Elette Engels, Sarah Vogel, Jason Paino, Dylan Potter, Carolyn Hollis, Abass Khochaiche, Micah Barnes, Alice O'Keefe, Matthew Cameron and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Michael ValceskiCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1967-1774
Elette EngelsCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4704-2104
Sarah VogelCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Jason PainoCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3648-7880
Dylan PotterCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Carolyn HollisCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3225-1042
Abass KhochaicheCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Micah BarnesCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Alice O'KeefeCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Matthew CameronAustralian Synchrotron, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
Kiarn RoughleyCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0009-0001-7190-0773
Anatoly RosenfeldCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5116-6308
Michael LerchCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2406-9972
Stéphanie CordeCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0388-7340
Moeava TeheiCentre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3654-6833

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesBrain cancer remains difficult to treat, with survival statistics stagnant for decades. The resistance of glioblastoma brain tumours can greatly challenge the effectiveness of conventional cancer radiotherapy. However, high dose rate radiotherapy has unique effects that allow for normal tissue sparing whilst maintaining tumour control. The addition of targeted radiosensitisers, such as the chemotherapeutic drug methotrexate (MTX) or the high-Z halogenated pyrimidine drug iododeoxyuridine (IUdR), can improve radiotherapy outcomes. Combining these radiosensitiser agents with ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) synchrotron X-rays can bear synergistic effects to enhance the efficacy of these multi-modal UHDR therapies, providing a means to overcome the radioresistance of brain cancer.

methodsHere, we use controlled in vitro assays following treatment, including a clonogenic assay to determine long-term cell survival and γH2AX immunofluorescent confocal microscopy to quantify double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs).

resultsWe find significant enhancement for highly synergistic combinations of IUdR+MTX with synchrotron X-rays. Cell survival results demonstrate 5.4 times increased 9L gliosarcoma cell killing when these agents are combined with UHDR synchrotron X-rays compared with conventional X-rays alone at the same 5 Gy dose. The underlying mechanisms are unveiled using γH2AX imaging and reveal significant increases in DSBs and dying cells following exposure to UHDR radiation.

conclusionsOur results demonstrate that highly synergistic combination treatments using UHDR synchrotron radiation can yield significantly improved brain cancer killing compared with conventional radiotherapy. We anticipate that these additive, multi-modal combination therapies will provide options for more targeted and effective use of radiotherapies for the future treatment of brain cancer.

Indexed as

chemotherapyDNA damagedrugshalogenated pyrimidinehigh-Zlocalisationmulti-modalradiosensitiserradiotherapysynchrotron

Identifiers

PMID40427210
PMCPMC12109919

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.