Abstract B45: Optical spectroscopy of tumor oxygenation and metabolism in preclinical head and neck tumors that fail radiation therapy

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of tumor metabolism and its relationship with tumor oxygenation in driving radiation resistance in head and neck cancer. The use of anatomical endpoints for therapy planning and the evaluation of response to radiation therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) is problematic because patients who do not respond favorably are losing critical time when alternate interventions could be attempted earlier. The use of a radiolabeled isotope severely limits the frequency of positron emission tomography (PET) of glycolytic demand and therefore the availability of immediate response to therapy. Although radiation-induced reoxygenation is a biomarker of tumor cell kill, radiation-induced reoxygenation can also lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that stabilize hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1). The transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) and its downstream targets play an important role in the switch to aerobic glycolysis or metabolism of glucose to lactate under well-oxygenated conditions. Aerobic glycolysis confers tumors with a growth advantage, reduces the production of toxic free radicals by diverting energy production away from the mitochondria, and creates an acidic environment conducive for invasion and metastasis. Thus, it is important to measure both tumor glycolytic demand and oxygenation to determine whether re-oxygenation after radiation is accompanied by decreased gly...
Source: Molecular Cancer Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Emerging Analytical Approaches: Poster Presentations - Proffered Abstracts Source Type: research