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Recovery from X-ray Injury and the Effect of Oxygen

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Abstract

OBSERVATIONS were reported recently1,2 on a significant reduction of the extrapolation number of the survival curves of mammalian cell cultures which were exposed in vitro to varying X-ray doses under anoxic, as contrasted to aerobic, conditions. In view of the relationship between the extrapolation number and the extent of recovery from radiation damage, noted in connexion with treatment by fractionated doses of X-rays3,4, fractionated treatment of anoxic cells can be expected to lead to a decrease or lack of recovery. This communication records the results of some preliminary experiments designed to test this possibility. Since access to oxygen is to a great extent reduced in neoplastic cell populations in vivo5, the data should further clarify some of the factors which determine the result of tumour radiation therapy, as commonly practised according to various dose-fractionation schedules.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Tumour Biology, Karolinska Institutet Medical School, Stockholm

    BO LITTBRAND & LÁSZLÓ RÉVÉSZ

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  1. BO LITTBRAND
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  2. LÁSZLÓ RÉVÉSZ
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LITTBRAND, B., RÉVÉSZ, L. Recovery from X-ray Injury and the Effect of Oxygen. Nature 203, 889–891 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/203889a0

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