Alteration of tumor glucose metabolism after radiotherapy in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines

Cancer cells utilize anaerobic glycolytic way to compensate their faster metabolism when compared to normal cells. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of radiation on tumor metabolism. MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines were divided into 4 groups, including 2 control groups and aerobic and anaerobic study groups (were irradiated 600 cGy by Co-60 teletherapy unit), incubated with radiolabelled glucose for 4 hours. One control group was for aerobic, and the other was for anaerobic group after KCN addition. Radiolabelled CO2 produced by the cells was isolated and collected in specially designed simulation vials. In supernatant the measurements of other end-products of carbohydrate catabolism including lactate, pyruvate, acetate were performed on a liquid scintillation analyzer after they were collected via anion-exchange chromatography. Finally glucose in supernatant was measured enzymatically by glucose oxidase method. Glycogen consumption and lactate production were significantly higher in anaerobic and radiation groups (p<0.01). Whereas CO2 production was significantly higher in control group (p<0.01). Taken all results together radiation lead tumor cells more anaerobic glycolysis with high glycogen consumption, high lactate production and low CO2 production. Radiation itself has led tumor cells to produce energy by anaerobic glycolysis, meaning radiation exposed cells become more hypoxic

Outcome after combined modality treatment for uterine papillary serous carcinoma: a study by the Rare Cancer Network (RCN).

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is a rare subtype of endometrial carcinoma, characterized by a poor outcome. We sought to better analyze the effect of surgery and adjuvant therapies on this disease. A retrospective analysis was performed on the records of 138 women diagnosed with UPSC between 1986 and 2003 in the framework of the Rare Cancer Network. Median age at diagnosis was 67 years. Pure UPSC was found in 107 patients and mixed histology in 30. Fifty-four patients had stage I, 20 stage II, 41 stage III and 23 stage IV disease. Median follow-up for the surviving patients was 44 months. Surgery was performed in 129 patients, after which 122 were rendered free of gross disease and comprised the adjuvant group. Of these, 23 received platinum-based chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was applied in 52 patients and 28 underwent combined chemo-radiotherapy. At last follow-up, 57 patients were alive free of disease, 10 were alive with disease, 62 died of disease, 8 died of other causes and 1 died due to toxicity. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival for the 122 patients treated with curative intent were 42%, 56% and 54%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age, stage, histology and adjuvant chemotherapy were significant for DFS; age, stage and histology were significant for DSS. Radiotherapy reduced the pelvic recurrence rate from 29% to 14% (p=0.047). UPSC harbours a moderate prognosis, with age, stage and histology as significant prognosticators. Conservative surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy can be suggested as an appropriate treatment approach for patients treated with curative intent