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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

One-step Protocol for Evaluation of the Mode of Radiation-induced Clonogenic Cell Death by Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: October 23, 2017
Proton versus photon radiation-induced cell death in head and neck cancer cells
Li Wang1, Shichao Han1,2, Jinming Zhu1,3
1Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Background:
Photon (X-ray) radiotherapy (XRT) kills cells via DNA damage, however, how proton radiotherapy (PRT) causes cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unclear. We investigated mechanisms of HNSCC cell death after XRT versus PRT.
Methods:
We assessed type of death in 2 human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and two HPV-negative cell lines: necrosis and apoptosis (Annexin-V fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC]); senescence (β-galactosidase); and mitotic catastrophe (γ-tubulin and diamidino-phenylindole [DAPI]).
Results:
The XRT-induced or PRT-induced cellular senescence and mitotic catastrophe in all cell lines studied suggested that PRT caused cell death to a greater extent than XRT. After PRT, mitotic catastrophe peaked in HPV-negative and HPV-positive cells at 48 and 72 hours, respectively. No obvious differences were noted in the extent of cell necrosis or apoptosis after XRT versus PRT.
Conclusion:
Under the conditions and in the cell lines reported here, mitotic catastrophe and senescence were the major types of cell death induced by XRT and PRT, and PRT may be more effective.
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