HYPOFRACTIONATED RADIATION INDUCES A DECREASE IN CELL-PROLIFERATION BUT NO HISTOLOGICAL DAMAGE TO ORGANOTYPIC MULTICELLULAR SPHEROIDS OF HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMAS

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of radiation on gliobl astoma, using an organotypic multicellular spheroid (OMS) model. Most glioblastoma cell lines are, in contrast to glioblastomas in vivo, rel atively radiosensitive. This limits the value of using cell lines for studying the radiation effect of glioblastomas. The advantage of OMS i s maintenance of the characteristics of the original tumour, which is lost in conventional cell cultures. OMS prepared from four glioblastom as were treated with hypofractionated radiation with a radiobiological ly equivalent dose to standard radiation treatment for glioblastoma pa tients. After treatment, the histology as well as the cell proliferati on of the OMS was examined. After radiation, a significant decrease in cell proliferation was found, although no histological damage to the OMS was observed. The modest effects of radiation on the OMS are in ag reement with the limited therapeutic value of radiotherapy for gliobla stoma patients. Therefore, OMS seems to be a good alternative for cell lines to study the radiobiological effect on glioblastomas. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.