Collection of Blood and Urine From Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Background:

-Research in NCI's Radiation Oncology Branch depends on the availability of blood and urine samples from patients receiving radiation therapy.

Objectives:

-To explore the effects of radiation therapy on gene expression in white blood cells, to measure radiation damage in red blood cells and to examine changes in hormone levels in the blood and urine after radiation therapy.

Eligibility:

-Patients 18 years of age and older who are receiving radiation therapy.

Design:

• Blood and urine samples are collected when participants enter the study.
• Additional samples may be collected at different times during and after treatment. Ideally, samples are obtained before, at the completion of, and 1 month following radiation therapy. Blood samples usually will be collected during routine patient monitoring procedures and will not require an additional needle stick.
• A total of 300 patients will be studied at the NCI in Bethesda, MD, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

BACKGROUND:

Evolving research initiatives in the Radiation Oncology Branch (ROB) and the Radiation Oncology Sciences Program (ROSP), NCI, depend upon the availability of blood and urine samples from patients receiving radiotherapy.

Examples of planned studies include an exploration of the effects of radiotherapy on peripheral blood lymphocyte gene expression, evaluation of cytogenetic damage in immature red blood cells, and measurements of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) in urine.

OBJECTIVES:

This protocol provides a means of acquiring blood and urine samples in patients receiving radiation therapy for a variety of conditions.

ELIGIBILITY:

Patients seen in the radiation oncology clinic will be asked to donate blood and/or urine before, during and after their treatment

DESIGN:

This is a pilot, exploratory study to evaluate the effects of ionizing radiation in blood and/ or urine.

On most occasions, the blood samples will be obtained as a component of routine patient monitoring and will not necessitate an additional venipuncture.

Blood and urine samples will be processed and stored in the Radiation Oncology Branch and Basic Research Laboratory, CCR, NCI, for use in the research efforts of the branch.

• Amundson SA, Bittner M, Chen Y, Trent J, Meltzer P, Fornace AJ Jr. Fluorescent cDNA microarray hybridization reveals complexity and heterogeneity of cellular genotoxic stress responses. Oncogene. 1999 Jun 17;18(24):3666-72.
• Amundson SA, Do KT, Fornace AJ Jr. Induction of stress genes by low doses of gamma rays. Radiat Res. 1999 Sep;152(3):225-31.
• Amundson SA, Do KT, Shahab S, Bittner M, Meltzer P, Trent J, Fornace AJ Jr. Identification of potential mRNA biomarkers in peripheral blood lymphocytes for human exposure to ionizing radiation. Radiat Res. 2000 Sep;154(3):342-6.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  1. Patients must a candidate for, or currently receiving radiotherapy.
  2. Age greater than or equal to 18 years.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Inability to provide informed consent.
2. Patients who have unobtainable data regarding previous radiation therapy.