Effect of FLASH proton therapy on primary bronchial epithelial cell organoids

TL;DR

This study compares the effects of FLASH and conventional proton therapy on lung organoids, finding no significant differences in DNA damage but a prolonged impact on organoid formation with FLASH.

Contribution

First study using primary 3D lung organoids to investigate proton FLASH therapy effects.

Findings

FLASH and conventional protons caused similar DNA damage in lung organoids.

FLASH treatment showed a prolonged reduction in organoid formation capacity.

RNAseq and qPCR revealed changes in DNA damage response and apoptosis genes.

Abstract

•This is the first study with primary 3D lung organoids investigating proton FLASH.•Protons decrease the progenitor function in human lung epithelial organoids.•No sparing effect was observed in organoids irradiated with conventional or FLASH protons.•More complex models with alveolar, endothelial and immune cells could provide further insight.

This is the first study with primary 3D lung organoids investigating proton FLASH.

Protons decrease the progenitor function in human lung epithelial organoids.

No sparing effect was observed in organoids irradiated with conventional or FLASH protons.

More complex models with alveolar, endothelial and immune cells could provide further insight.

The effects of conventional (CONV) and FLASH proton therapy on primary bronchial epithelial cell (PBEC) organoids from individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were investigated. The primary objective was to compare the effect of FLASH and CONV on COPD PBEC organoids with a focus on DNA damage, organoid formation, and gene expression.

PBECs were obtained from six COPD donors, cultured as three-dimensional (3D) organoids and exposed to 2 and 8 Gy CONV and FLASH proton radiation at the Holland Proton Therapy Center. DNA damage was assessed by γH2AX staining. Organoid formation capacity was assessed by counting the organoids formed after reseeding irradiated cells at 24 h and 7 days. Bulk RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and qPCR analyses were performed to identify pathways and differences in the radiation response.

γH2AX foci analysis showed a significant dose-dependent increase in DNA damage at 1 h for both CONV and FLASH treatments, without differences between the two modalities. Organoid formation assays revealed a dose-dependent decrease in organoid formation capacity at 24 h for both treatments. At 7 days, 2 Gy FLASH-treated samples showed significantly reduced organoid formation compared to 2 Gy CONV (p = 0.008). RNAseq identified CONV and FLASH-induced changes in expression of DNA-damage response and apoptosis pathway genes. A dose-dependent upregulation of MDM2, GDF15, DDB2, BAX, P21, AEN and a decrease in MKi67 expression was confirmed by qPCR analysis.

No significant differences were found in DNA damage or gene expression profiles between CONV and FLASH. The organoid formation assay showed a prolonged detrimental effect in the FLASH-treated organoids, suggesting a more complex interaction of FLASH with lung epithelial cells. The results of this study contribute to the advancement of robust in vitro human lung models for investigating the mechanisms of action of FLASH, potentially facilitating the treatment of NSCLC patients with proton FLASH therapy.

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