Methods and compositions for protection of cells and tissues from computed tomography radiation

Abstract

Described are methods for preventing or inhibiting genomic instability and in cells affected by diagnostic radiology procedures employing ionizing radiation. Embodiments include methods of preventing or inhibiting genomic instability and in cells affected by computed tomography (CT) radiation. Subjects receiving ionizing radiation may be those persons suspected of having cancer, or cancer patients having received or currently receiving cancer therapy, and or those patients having received previous ionizing radiation, including those who are approaching or have exceeded the recommended total radiation dose for a person.

1 . A method of inhibiting genomic instability in a subject caused by computed tomography (CT) scan radiation comprising administering to the subject an effective dose of a phosphorothioate compound prior to and/or following exposure to the CT scan radiation, wherein the phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof is selected from amifostine, WR-1065, WR-638, WR-3689, WR-2822, WR-2529, WR-77913, WR-255591, WR-2823, WR-33278, WR-255709, WR-151326, and WR-151327;
 wherein:   the radiation dose is 1-25 cGy; and   inhibiting genomic instability is selected from reducing micronuclei formation, reducing γ-H2AX formation, reducing chromosome translocation frequency, reducing HPRT mutant frequency, and reducing hyper-recombination.   
     
     
         2 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of performing a CT scan on a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective dose of a phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof to the subject prior to and/or following exposure to the CT scan radiation. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the CT scan radiation comprises a radiation dose of about 1-25 cGy. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof comprises amifostine, WR-1065, WR-638, WR-3689, WR-2822, WR-2529, WR-77913, WR-255591, WR-2823, WR-33278, WR-255709, WR-151326, WR-151327, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof is amifostine or WR-1065. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the effective dose of a phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof is administered prior to and/or up to 1, 2, or 3 hours following exposure to the CT scan radiation. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof is administered prior to exposure to the CT scan radiation. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the phosphorothioate or derivative thereof is administered at least 3 hours prior to exposure to the CT scan radiation 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof is administered within 5 hours prior to exposure to the CT scan radiation. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof is administered up to one hour following exposure to the CT scan radiation. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof is administered prior to and within 30 minutes after exposure to the CT scan radiation. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the phosphorothioate compound or derivative thereof is administered subcutaneously, intravenously, topically, transdermally, orally, or via an auto-injector device. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the subject has been diagnosed with cancer or is suspected of having cancer. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising diagnosing cancer in the subject using the CT scan. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the subject has had 1, 2 or 3 previous CT scans. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the subject is a human or non-human animal. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the CT scan radiation comprises ionizing radiation. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising administering to the subject an antioxidant. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid, glutathione, lipoic acid, uric acid, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, resveratrol, retinol, α-tocopherol, ubiquinol, selenium, catalase, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         51 . A method of modulating mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) levels in a subject exposed to ionizing radiation, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective dose of a compound or derivative thereof to the subject prior to and/or following exposure to the ionizing radiation.