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Systems biology perspectives on the carcinogenic potential of radiation

Journal Article · · Journal of Radiation Research
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrt211· OSTI ID:1625353
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [3];  [5];  [6];  [3]
  1. New York Univ. (NYU), NY (United States). School of Medicine, Dept. of Radiation Oncology; DOE/OSTI
  2. Univ. of California, San Francisco, CA (United States). Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Life Sciences Division
  4. New York Univ. (NYU), NY (United States). School of Medicine, Dept. of Pathology
  5. New York Univ. (NYU), NY (United States). School of Medicine, Dept. of Radiation Oncology
  6. New York Univ. (NYU), NY (United States), School of Medicine. Dept. of Pathology

This review focuses on recent experimental and modeling studies that attempt to define the physiological context in which high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation increases epithelial cancer risk and the efficiency with which it does so. Radiation carcinogenesis is a two-compartment problem: ionizing radiation can alter genomic sequence as a result of damage due to targeted effects (TE) from the interaction of energy and DNA; it can also alter phenotype and multicellular interactions that contribute to cancer by poorly understood nontargeted effects (NTE). Rather than being secondary to DNA damage and mutations that can initiate cancer, radiation NTE create the critical context in which to promote cancer. Systems biology modeling using comprehensive experimental data that integrates different levels of biological organization and time-scales is a means of identifying the key processes underlying the carcinogenic potential of high-LET radiation. We hypothesize that inflammation is a key process, and thus cancer susceptibility will depend on specific genetic predisposition to the type and duration of this response. Systems genetics using novel mouse models can be used to identify such determinants of susceptibility to cancer in radiation sensitive tissues following high-LET radiation. Improved understanding of radiation carcinogenesis achieved by defining the relative contribution of NTE carcinogenic effects and identifying the genetic determinants of the high-LET cancer susceptibility will help reduce uncertainties in radiation risk assessment.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
OSTI ID:
1625353
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 22404402
Journal Information:
Journal of Radiation Research, Journal Name: Journal of Radiation Research Journal Issue: suppl 1 Vol. 55; ISSN 0449-3060
Publisher:
Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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The Grand Challenge: Use of a New Approach in Developing Policies in the Area of Radiation and Health journal May 2014
Ionizing Radiation and Complex DNA Damage: From Prediction to Detection Challenges and Biological Significance journal November 2019
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