Relative biological effectiveness and cell-killing efficacy of continuous low-dose-rate 125I seeds on prostate carcinoma cells in vitro. Integr Cancer Ther. 2010; 9:59–65. doi: 10.1177/1534735409357758 PMID: 20150222

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 125I seeds on prostate carcinoma (PC3) cells. The relative biological effectiveness of 125I seeds on PC3 cells with respect to 60Co g rays was 1.4. Both 4 Gy of 60Co g ray and 125I seed irradiation increased the percentage of cells in G2 phase, but there was no significant difference between these 2 types of radiation. Significantly, 125I seeds induced higher apoptotic rates of PC3 cells compared with 60Co g ray irradiation. Furthermore, Bcl-2 expression, but not caspase-3 activity, in PC3 cells was downregulated after irradiation with 125I seed or 60Co g rays