The quantity of pATM molecules in each sample of the training cohort was found in agreement with the observed Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grades with an AUC = 0.71 alone and of 0.77 combined to chemotherapy information.
Then, the binary assay was assessed on a validation cohort of 36 patients with head and neck cancers. The global quantity of pATM molecules was assessed by ELISA on lymphocytes to determine the best threshold value. Patients were divided into 2 groups, according to the grade of experienced toxicity. A first retrospective study was performed on 150 blood lymphocytes of patients with several cancer types. Here we assessed the reliability of the pATM quantification in lymphocytes to predict IRS. Recent studies stressed the role of the phosphorylated ATM (pATM) protein in RT-toxicity genesis and its ability in predicting individual radiosensitivity (IRS) in fibroblasts. Early toxicity is common, sometimes leading to discontinuation of treatment.
Radiation therapy (RT), either alone or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy is a keystone of cancers treatment.
