Investigating the effects of protons versus x-rays on radiation-induced lymphopenia after brain irradiation
Authors: Coupey Julie , Pham Thao Nguyen , Toutain Jérôme , Ivanova Viktoriia , Hue Erika , Helaine Charly , Ismail Ali , Saulnier Romaric , Simonin Gael , Rousseau Marc , Moignier Cyril , Thariat Juliette , Valable Samuel 
Published: March 2024

Background

Conventional x-ray-based radiotherapy is a standard treatment for patients with brain tumors. However, is associated with systemic effects like lymphopenia that correlates with poor prognosis. Proton therapy has emerged as a new radiation strategy, given that the lower entry dose and absence of exit dose can be exploited to spare healthy brain tissues and reduce side-effects caused by systemic inflammation. We evaluated if brain irradiation with protons could spare circulating leukocytes along with other variables in rodent models.

Methods

Tumor-free C57BL/6 mice were irradiated with a total dose of 20Gy in 2.5Gy twice-daily sessions over four consecutive days with either x-rays or protons. Groups of mice were defined according to irradiation volume (whole-brain or hemisphere) and dose rate (1 or 2Gy/min). Blood was withdrawn at various time points and circulating lymphoid, with myeloid subpopulations analyzed using flow cytometry. Brain tissue histochemical analyses were performed late after irradiation.

Results

Blood sampling showed severe and acute radiation-induced lymphopenia after x-rays, with marked depletion of 50% CD4+and CD8+, as well as B and NK cells. With protons, the decrease was 20% on average for whole-brain irradiations, suggesting a conservative effect on circulating lymphocytes. The data showed no effect in CD11b+myeloid cells for both x-rays and protons. Histological analyses revealed a more intense expression level of CD68 and Iba1 immunostaining after x-ray irradiation. GFAP staining was well detected after both beams.

Conclusion

Proton therapy for brain tumors differs from photon therapy in terms of its effects on circulating cells and tissues.

Key points

X-ray brain irradiation induced an acute severe lymphopenia, with a reduction of at least 50% lymphocytes. The whole-brain irradiation caused a more pronounced decrease in lymphocytes than hemisphere irradiation. Proton brain irradiation exhibited a conservative effect on circulating leukocytes.

X-ray irradiation-induced lymphopenia is followed by a recovery of all lymphocyte subpopulations to control levels. However, this recovery is longer for CD3+lymphocytes, and B and NK cells, depending on irradiation modalities.

Long-term brain tissue histochemical analyses demonstrated differences between the two beams, consisting of a macrophage/microglial activation seen mostly after x-rays while an astrocyte reaction was seen after brain exposure to the two beams. These differences may explain the disparities observed in leukocytes, thereby favoring a specific biological reaction between the brain and blood.

Importance of the Study

Our study demonstrated that while whole-brain or hemispheric irradiation with x-rays resulted in lymphopenia, proton brain irradiation exhibited a conservative effect on circulating lymphocytes, which was paralleled by a less intense brain tissue reaction.