Dosimetry Consultation Services
Biology Project Support: Pre- and Post-Irradiation
Since the PCIRCF primarily supports cancer biology research, new users will first interact with the operations manager, who is a biologist. The operations manager will determine the feasibility and the resources required to accomplish the investigator’s aims, and then coordinate with physics support on dosimetry and appropriate setup. The level of interaction will be based on the investigator’s experience, which can range from novice to expert with the aim not to direct, but to facilitate experiments.
The Biology Project Support group offers expertise on cell or animal models and relevant biological endpoints, and provides training or support for using technologies vital to post-irradiation endpoints. Resources and support available to investigators will include, but are not limited to:
- Small animal models - Preclinical animal models are typically immunocompetent or immunocompromised mice or rats. Irradiation endpoints may include normal tissue responses, such as lung fibrosis, mucositis, skin lesions (desquamation or hair loss), or bone marrow depletion. Tumor models include subcutaneously implanted human tumors in immune compromised mice or rats, surgically implanted human tumor cells and PDXs in the tissue of origin within immune-compromised animals, and syngeneic tumors implanted subcutaneously or orthotopically in immune-competent mice or rats. Other animal models include Drosophila, Medaka, and zebrafish.
- Large animal models - Large animal irradiation requires the use of linear accelerators typically employed for human patients. The Gottingen minipig model has been routinely used to study radiation neurotoxicity and methods for sparing. These animals are also valuable models for investigating skin responses and other normal tissue endpoints, including radiation protection.
- Functional analysis at the tissue or cellular level - Biology Project Support can train users to perform specific assays or allow users to engage the Core Facility to conduct the assays on their behalf. These assays include clonogenic survival, DNA damage and repair analysis, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assays, metabolic profiling, blood collections (for animal studies), and tumor collection for immunohistochemistry and immunological studies such as immune cell typing, lung fibrosis, and hypoxia. Some assays may require collaboration with other UTSW Core Services.
- Cell line and tumor portfolio - Biology Project Support offers a comprehensive catalog of over 100 tumor cell lines representing various cancers, including head and neck, lung, breast, pancreatic, prostate, brain, and others. At least 20 of these cell lines have been stably transfected with the luciferase gene to monitor growth, either in vitro or as implanted tumors. These cell lines can be subcutaneously implanted into immune-compromised mice or rats, with many also suitable for orthotopic implantation. Additionally, syngeneic mouse and rat tumor models for breast, lung, head and neck, pancreas, prostate, and brain cancers are available. Investigators are also welcome to use their own models.