Effects of radiation on a model of malignant glioma invasion

We sought to characterize the effects of radiation alone and in combination with BCNU and dexamethasone on malignant glioma invasion. A model of malig nant glioma invasion into a gel matrix of collagen type I was used to chara cterize response to radiation treatment for four malignant glioma cell line s (C6, U251, U373, A172) and nine primary human glioblastoma explants. A ra diation dose dependent inhibition of invasion was noted for the C6 astrocyt oma cell line but not the other cell lines or explants. Addition of BCNU an d dexamethasone to radiation produced additional inhibition of invasion amo ng the cell lines and explants but could not suppress invasion entirely.