Prolonged survival of Fischer rats bearing F98 glioma after iodine-enhanced synchrotron stereotactic radiotherapy

Abstract

Purpose: Heavy-atom-enhanced synchrotron stereotactic radiotherapy (SSR) is a treatment that involves selective accumulation of high-Z elements in tumors followed by stereotactic irradiation with X-rays from a synchrotron source. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the efficacy of iodine-enhanced SSR could be further improved in the F98 rodent glioma model, by using a concomitant injection of an iodinated contrast agent and a transient blood-brain barrier opener (mannitol) during irradiation.

Methods and materials: Fourteen days after intracerebral inoculations of F98 cells, the rats were irradiated with 50-keV X-rays while receiving an infusion of hyperosmotic mannitol with iodine, either intravenously or via the carotid (9 to 15 rats per group, 117 rats total).

Results: For doses<or=15 Gy, the intracarotid infusion of mannitol and iodine improved the rats' survival compared with intravenous injection or irradiation alone. The percentage-increased life spans (ILS) were 91%, 116%, and 169% without iodine, after infusion of iodine and mannitol intravenously, and intracarotid, respectively (15 Gy). At 25 Gy, the rats irradiated without iodine had the longest survival (ILS=607%), but no additional benefit was obtained with iodine and mannitol.

Conclusions: Iodine-enhanced SSR is significantly improved with concomitant intracarotid infusion of iodine and mannitol for radiation doses<or=15 Gy.