New research on mice helps to understand the risks of exposure to low doses of radiation, such as CT scans and X-rays – ScienceDaily

The team discovered that low doses of radiation increased the number of mutated cells in p53, a well-known genetic change badociated with cancer. However, giving the mice an antioxidant before radiation promotes the growth of healthy cells, which have supplanted and replaced the mutant p53 cells.

The results, published today (July 18) in Cell strain cell show that low doses of radiation promote the spread of cancer cells in healthy tissue. The researchers recommend that this risk be taken into account in the badessment of radiological safety. The study also offers the opportunity to develop non-toxic preventive measures to reduce the risk of developing cancer by enhancing the ability of our healthy cells to surpbad and eradicate cells with carcinogenic potential.

Every day we are exposed to various sources of ionizing radiation, including natural radiation in the soil and rocks, as well as important medical procedures such as CT scans and X-rays.

Low doses of radiation, such as medical imaging exposure, are considered safe because they cause little damage to DNA and apparently have a minimal effect on long-term health. Until now, other effects of exposure to low levels of radiation remained hidden, which meant that it was difficult to understand the real risk badociated with low doses of radiation.

Researchers have already shown that our normal tissues, like the skin, are battlefields where mutant cells compete for healthy cells. We all have cancerous mutant cells in healthy tissues, including those with p53 mutations, the number of which increases with age, but very few of them eventually become cancerous.

In this new study, researchers have shown that low doses of radiation weigh in favor of cancerous mutant cells in the esophagus. Researchers at the Sanger Institute and their collaborators administered mice with a radiation dose of 50 milligrams, equivalent to three or four CT scans. As a result, the p53 mutant cells propagated and supplanted the healthy cells.

Dr. David Fernandez-Antoran, lead author of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said, "Our bodies are the whole" Game of Clones "- a permanent battle for the space between normal and mutant cells. even small doses of radiation, similar to three CT scans, can tip the scales in favor of mutant cancer-capable cells, and we have found a potential additional cancer risk from radiation that needs to be recognized. "

The researchers then administered mice an over-the-counter antioxidant – N-acetyl-cysteine ​​(NAC) – before exposing them to the same level of radiation. The team discovered that the antioxidant gave normal cells the boost needed to defeat and eradicate p53 mutant cells.

However, the antioxidant alone without radiation exposure did not help normal cells to fight mutant clones.

Dr. Kasumi Murai, an author of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "Giving the mice an antioxidant before exposing them to low doses of radiation has given healthy cells the additional extra needed to fight the mutant cells of the body. However, we do not know the effect of this treatment on other tissues – it could help other cancer cells to become stronger elsewhere. Is that the long-term use of antioxidants is not enough to prevent cancer in humans, according to other studies. "

Professor Phil Jones, lead author of the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the MRC Cancer Unit at the University of Cambridge, said: "Radiation-based medical imaging procedures, such as CT scans and X-rays, a very low level of risk – so low that it is difficult to measure.This research helps us to better understand the effects of low radiation doses and the risks that this may entail.It needs more research to understand the effects about humans. "

The team suggests that this research also highlights the possibility of developing therapies to prevent cancer. By adjusting healthy cells, they naturally eliminate cancer cells without any toxic side effects for the patient.