Elona Juozaitytė

Professor Elona Juozaitytė Radiation oncologist, Head of Oncology and Haematology department, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Head of Oncology institute, Lithuanian university of Health sciences, Lithuania

Abstract

Cell responses to ionizing radiation: current research at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and future perspectives with “INSPIRE” project.

E. Juozaityte, A. Bartnykaite, D. Laukaitiene, R. Ugenskiene.

Oncology Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences , Kaunas , Lithuania

Oncology Research Laboratory, Oncology Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.

BACKGROUND: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences participates in Horizon 2020 project “INfraStructure in Proton International Research” (INSPIRE). We are involved in Radiobiology research. The aim is to analyze the molecular basis of breast cancer cell radio-resistance. The survival of breast cancer cells, following the exposure to linear accelerator, and the extent of apoptosis and cell cycle delay in irradiated cells were. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two different breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were exposed to 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 Gy of ionizing radiation (IR) from linear accelerator. The survival of cells was assessed via clonogenic assay. The intensity of the radiation-induced apoptosis was measured using annexin V staining and Guava PCA flow cytometer. Furthermore, the cell-cycle delay was studied on Muse Cell Analyzer via propidium iodide DNA assay.

RESULTS: In clonogenic assay the fraction of surviving MDA-MB-231 cells was higher than that of MCF-7 at all analyzed IR doses. The results suggests that MDA-MB-231 cells were more resistant to IR. The analysis of early radiation-induced apoptosis showed that MDA-MB-231 cells had a delayed apoptotic response, following the exposure to IR, compared to MCF-7 cells. In addition, cell cycle analysis revealed that IR induced G2/M phase arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells and G0/G1 phase arrest in MCF-7.

CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that radio-resistance in the MDA-MB-231 cell line may be associated with a delayed apoptotic response and G2/M phase arrest following the exposure to IR. The molecular mechanism of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines radio-resistance is under investigation.

Biography

She graduated from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences [former Kaunas Medical Institute] with the qualification of medical doctor in 1984. She continued her studies at the internship programme and later completed post-graduate studies in Zalcburg radiotherapy and radiooncology institute, Austria and Loyola university, Stritch medical school, USA.

Academic activity

Problem –orientated teaching of medical students. Lectures for undergraduate IV year medical students in oncology, residency programmes in medical and radiation oncology, postgraduate training of medical staff. She has supervised or advised doctoral students on their dissertations.

Scientific activity

Scientific interest in Breast cancer research. She is a head of several research projects, principal investigator in phase II-IV clinical trials, expert of Lithuanian Council of Sciences; Editorial Board member for scientific journals.

192 publications in breast cancer, radiotherapy, combined modalities, complex management of oncology patients, 14 research and teaching books, 39 articles in „Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge“ journals with impact factor.

Activities in National Health care system

Consultant of Radiation oncology at the Ministry of Health care of the Republic of Lithuania, Member of Advisory Board at the Ministry of Health care of the Republic of Lithuania, Member of working group at the Ministry of Health care of the Republic of Lithuania for creation and implementation of National Cancer Control programme, Member of Scientific Council at the National Cancer Institute in Vilnius, Member of Senate at Lithuanian university of health sciences.