Presentation of the Radiotherapy, Tumor and Radiobiology Laboratory
The normal (blood cells, fibroblasts, osteoblasts, keratinocytes etc.) and tumor (breast, ovary, cervix, melanoma, leukemia etc.) primary cell cultures and cell lines, initiated and subcultured in the Radiotherapy, Tumor and Radiobiology Laboratory serves as in vitro models for the main research domains of the laboratory, as follows:
- the biology of the normal and tumor cells (study of some normal and tumor cells patterns; testing of antineoplastic agents (cytotoxic drugs, synthetic compounds, compounds of metals, natural products, biocomposites etc.); study of the antioxidant effects of natural products; synergistic effects in combined treatment with antitumor agents; identification of predictive molecular and cellular markers for the response to chemotherapy; evaluation of the pretherapeutic chemosensitivity of the primary tumor cells; in vitro models for tissue engineering; factors implicated in carcinogenesis and methods of prevention; tumor angiogenesis);
- radiobiology (study of molecular mechanisms and applications in cancer therapy; study of the applicability of cytogenetic tests for the prediction of radiosensitivity of the normal tissues, in patients subjected to radiotherapy; biologic markers of radiosensitivity with predictive value for the treatment of different types of cancer; modulation of the response to radiotherapy with biologic compounds, with effect on the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, in different types of cancer; study of DNA lesions and chromosomal aberrations, induced by ionizing radiations in normal and tumor cells; study of carcinogenic effects of UV radiations; using visible light in cancer therapy – photodynamic therapy);
- immunology (the effects of low-dose radiations on the immune system; fine modulation of the immune response in human neoplastic and inflammatory pathology);
- stem cells (alternative source for tissue therapy and regeneration (embrionic and adult stem cells); study of tumor stem cells).