Robert P. Balog, Rowena Bacher, Polly Chang, Michael Greenstein, Songeeta Jammalamadaka, Harold Javitz, Susan J. Knox, Shirley Lee, Hua Lin, Thomas Shaler, Lei Shura, Paul Stein, Kathryn Todd & David E. Cooper (2020) Development of a biodosimeter for radiation triage using novel blood protein biomarker panels in humans and non-human primates, International Journal of Radiation Biology, 96:1, 22-34.
Abstract
Purpose
In a significant nuclear event, hundreds of thousands of individuals will require rapid triage for absorbed radiation to ensure effective medical treatment and efficient use of medical resources. We are developing a rapid screening method to assess whether an individual received an absorbed dose of ≥2 Gy based on the analysis of a specific panel of blood proteins in a fingerstick blood sample.
Materials and methods
We studied a data set of 1051 human blood samples obtained from radiotherapy patients, normal healthy individuals, and several special population groups. We compared the findings in humans with those from irradiation studies in non-human primates (NHPs).
Results
We identified a panel of three protein biomarkers, salivary alpha amylase (AMY1), Flt3 ligand (FLT3L), and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1), which are upregulated in human patients receiving fractionated doses of total body irradiation (TBI) therapy as a treatment for cancer. These proteins exhibited a similar radiation response in NHPs after single acute or fractionated doses of ionizing radiation.
Conclusion
Our work provides confidence in this biomarker panel for biodosimetry triage using fingerstick blood samples and in the use of NHPs as a model for irradiated humans.
Keywords: Radiation biodosimetry, blood biomarkers, human radiotherapy patient studies, immunoassays, point of care test