Measurement of radiation-induced autophagic flux in human brain cancer cells

Radiation-induced autophagy mediates susceptibility to radiation [1]. However, autophagy is a multifaceted process. Herein, 2 aspects of autophagy, induction of autophagy or changes in autophagic flux, in radiation sensitivity were investigated. Relying on a systems-based approach and adding to a large, data dense morphome database [2, 3], we mined for complex cellular information on autophagy due to irradiation of human brain cancer (glioblastoma or GBM) cells. A quantitative stereology method is described here to chronicle these two important aspects of autophagy. These results add to our understanding of the role of autophagy in the efficacy of radiation therapy by providing a basis for the adaptive role for radiation-induced autophagy in GBM cells. Further, because GBM tumors are so resistant to radiotherapy, a novel strategy to radiosensitize GBM cells is urgently needed.