The rationale of this study stems from the concern of a radiation-induced accident or terrorist-mediated nuclear attack resulting in large populations of people exposed to nonlethal radiation doses or after a course of definitive radiation therapy which could substantially increase the risk for cancer induction after exposure. Currently, there are no safe and effective interventions to reduce this increased cancer risk to humans. We have tested the hypothesis that the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, administered in the diet of mice would reduce or delay radiation-induced cancer when given after radiation exposure. A total-body irradiation (TBI) of 3 Gy was administered to female C3H/Hen mice. Immediately after TBI, along with untreated control groups, animals were placed on chow containing different concentrations of encapsulated rapamycin (14, 40, 140 mg/kg chow). Animals remained on the respective control or rapamycin diets and were followed for their entire lifespan (total of 795 mice). The endpoint for the study was tumor formation (not to exceed 1 cm) or until the animal reached a humane endpoint at which time the animal was euthanized and evaluated for the presence of tumors (pathology evaluated on all animals). Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that all three concentrations of rapamycin afforded a significant survival advantage by delaying the time at which tumors appeared and reduction of the incidence of certain tumor types such as hepatocellular carcinomas. The survival advantage was dependent on the rapamycin concentration used. Further, there was a survival advantage when delaying the rapamycin chow by 1 month after TBI. Rapamycin is FDA-approved for human use and could be considered for use in individuals exposed to nonlethal TBI from a nuclear accident or attack or after significant therapeutic doses for cancer treatment.
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October 2024
REGULAR ARTICLES|
October 08 2024
Rapamycin Reduces Carcinogenesis and Enhances Survival in Mice when Administered after Nonlethal Total-Body Irradiation
Anastasia L. Sowers;
Anastasia L. Sowers
aRadiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Sangeeta Gohain;
Sangeeta Gohain
aRadiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Elijah F. Edmondson;
Elijah F. Edmondson
bMolecular Histopathology Laboratory, NCI-Frederick Cancer Research Center, Frederick, Maryland 21702
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Rajani Choudhuri;
Rajani Choudhuri
aRadiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Murali C. Krishna;
Murali C. Krishna
aRadiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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John A. Cook;
John A. Cook
aRadiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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James B. Mitchell
James B. Mitchell
1
aRadiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
1Corresponding author: Dr. James B. Mitchell, Radiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bldg. 10, Room B3-B69, Bethesda, MD 20892; email: [email protected].
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Radiat Res (2024) 202 (4): 639–648.
Article history
Received:
April 16 2024
Accepted:
June 26 2024
Citation
Anastasia L. Sowers, Sangeeta Gohain, Elijah F. Edmondson, Rajani Choudhuri, Murali C. Krishna, John A. Cook, James B. Mitchell; Rapamycin Reduces Carcinogenesis and Enhances Survival in Mice when Administered after Nonlethal Total-Body Irradiation. Radiat Res 1 October 2024; 202 (4): 639–648. doi: https://doi.org/10.1667/RADE-24-00111.1
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