Ultrastructural Analysis of Cancer Cells Treated with the Radiopharmaceutical Radium Dichloride ([ 223 Ra]RaCl 2 ): Understanding the Effect on Cell Structure.
Joel Félix Silva Diniz FilhoAline Oliveira da Silva de BarrosMartha Sahylí Ortega PijeiraEduardo Junior RicciVictor do Valle MidlejMariana Pelissari Monteiro Aguiar BaroniClenilton Costa Dos SantosLuciana Magalhães Rebelo AlencarPedro Filho Noronha SouzaPublished in: Cells (2023)
The use of alpha-particle (α-particle) radionuclides, especially [ 223 Ra]RaCl 2 (radium dichloride), for targeted alpha therapy is steadily increasing. Despite the positive clinical outcomes of this therapy, very little data are available about the effect on the ultrastructure of cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nanomechanical and ultrastructure effect of [ 223 Ra] RaCl 2 on cancer cells. To analyze the effect of [ 223 Ra]RaCl 2 on tumor cells, human breast cancer cells (lineage MDA-MB-231) were cultured and treated with the radiopharmaceutical at doses of 2 µCi and 0.9 µCi. The effect was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with Raman spectroscopy. The results showed massive destruction of the cell membrane but preservation of the nucleus membrane. No evidence of DNA alteration was observed. The data demonstrated the formation of lysosomes and phagosomes. These findings help elucidate the main mechanism involved in cell death during α-particle therapy.
Keyphrases
- atomic force microscopy
- electron microscopy
- rheumatoid arthritis
- cell death
- breast cancer cells
- raman spectroscopy
- high speed
- endothelial cells
- disease activity
- cell cycle arrest
- single molecule
- single cell
- electronic health record
- big data
- machine learning
- circulating tumor
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- cancer therapy
- newly diagnosed
- cell proliferation
- drug delivery
- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- data analysis
- systemic sclerosis
- endoplasmic reticulum stress