Chemoradiation impairs myofiber hypertrophic growth in a pediatric tumor model

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 11;10(1):19501. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75913-w.

Abstract

Pediatric cancer treatment often involves chemotherapy and radiation, where off-target effects can include skeletal muscle decline. The effect of such treatments on juvenile skeletal muscle growth has yet to be investigated. We employed a small animal irradiator to administer fractionated hindlimb irradiation to juvenile mice bearing implanted rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) tumors. Hindlimb-targeted irradiation (3 × 8.2 Gy) of 4-week-old mice successfully eliminated RMS tumors implanted one week prior. After establishment of this preclinical model, a cohort of tumor-bearing mice were injected with the chemotherapeutic drug, vincristine, alone or in combination with fractionated irradiation (5 × 4.8 Gy). Single myofiber analysis of fast-contracting extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and slow-contracting soleus (SOL) muscles was conducted 3 weeks post-treatment. Although a reduction in myofiber size was apparent, EDL and SOL myonuclear number were differentially affected by juvenile irradiation and/or vincristine treatment. In contrast, a decrease in myonuclear domain (myofiber volume/myonucleus) was observed regardless of muscle or treatment. Thus, inhibition of myofiber hypertrophic growth is a consistent feature of pediatric cancer treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chemoradiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Hindlimb / drug effects
  • Hindlimb / pathology
  • Hindlimb / radiation effects
  • Hypertrophy
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / pathology*
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / radiation effects
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / therapy*
  • Rotarod Performance Test
  • Transplantation, Isogeneic
  • Vincristine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Vincristine