Modeling Hypoxia Induced Radiation Resistance and the Impact of Radiation Sources

Keywords

Living Systems and Precision Medicine
Code:
65/2024
Title:
Modeling Hypoxia Induced Radiation Resistance and the Impact of Radiation Sources
Date:
Friday 13th September 2024
Author(s):
Possenti, L.; Vitullo, P.; Cicchetti, A.; Zunino, P.; Rancati, T.
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Abstract:
Hypoxia contributes significantly to resistance in radiotherapy. Our research rigorously examines the influence of microvascular morphology on radiotherapy outcome, specifically focusing on how microvasculature shapes hypoxia within the microenvironment and affects resistance to a standard treatment regimen (30 X 2 Gy). Our computational modeling extends to the effects of different radiation sources. For photons and protons, our analysis establishes a clear correlation between hypoxic volume distribution and treatment effectiveness, with vascular density and regularity playing a crucial role in treatment success. On the contrary, carbon ions exhibit distinct effectiveness, even in areas of intense hypoxia and poor vascularization. This finding points to the potential of carbon-based hadron therapy in overcoming hypoxia-induced resistance to RT. Considering that the spatial scale analyzed in this study is closely aligned with that of imaging data voxels, we also address the implications of these findings in a clinical context envisioning the possibility of detecting subvoxel hypoxia.
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Luca Possenti, Piermario Vitullo, Alessandro Cicchetti, Paolo Zunino, Tiziana Rancati, Modeling hypoxia-induced radiation resistance and the impact of radiation sources, Computers in Biology and Medicine, Volume 173, 2024, 108334, ISSN 0010-4825,