# Serum-Based Proteomic Approach to Identify Clinical Biomarkers of Radiation Exposure

## TL;DR

This study identifies a set of serum proteins that could serve as biomarkers for radiation exposure in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel serum proteomic signature of ionizing radiation exposure in cancer patients.

## Key findings

- Forty radiation-modulated proteins were identified with significant changes after radiotherapy.
- Key proteins involved in acute phase response, DNA repair, and inflammation were highlighted.
- The findings suggest potential use of these proteins as biomarkers for radiation-related injuries.

## Abstract

Ionizing radiation (IR) is commonly used in medical diagnostics and therapeutic applications, such as radiotherapy (RT) for cancer treatment. IR can damage DNA, potentially leading to mutations that may result in cancer over time. High doses of IR can cause immediate health effects known as acute radiation syndrome. Identifying effective biomarkers to monitor and assess the impact of IR exposure is critically important. This study reports a panel of potential protein biomarkers, focusing on those involved in the acute phase response, DNA repair, and inflammation in patients undergoing definitive radiotherapy for cancer treatment.

Background: Ionizing radiation (IR) exposure poses a significant health risk due to its widespread use in medical diagnostics and therapeutic applications, necessitating rapid and effective biomarkers for assessment. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the serum proteomic signature of IR exposure in patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). Methods: Blood samples were obtained from eighteen patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and five patients with rectal cancer before and immediately after they underwent curative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The comprehensive serum proteome was analyzed in individual samples using nanoHPLC-MS/MS. Results: Forty radiation-modulated proteins (RMPs), 24 upregulated and 16 downregulated, with a fold change ≥1.5 and p-value < 0.05 were identified. About 40% of the RMPs are involved in acute phase response, DNA repair, and inflammation; the key RMPs were ADCY1, HGF, MCEMP1, CHD4, RECQL5, MSH6, and ZNF224. Conclusions: This study identifies a panel of serum proteins that may reflect the radiation response, providing a valuable molecular fingerprint of IR exposure and paving the way for the development of sensitive and specific biomarkers for early detection and clinical management of IR-related injuries.