Tech Briefs Magazine - December 2022 - 48

SPINOFF
A
stronauts who spend six
months in space are exposed
to roughly the same
amount of radiation as 1,000
chest X-rays. Having multiple
kinds
of
radiation bombard
their bodies puts them at risk
for cancer, central nervous system
damage, bone loss, and
some cardiovascular diseases.
NASA funded research into
a new method for measuring
radiation damage to humans.
Now, 19 years later, that fundamental
science supports a
diagnostic test to improve cancer
treatment on Earth, called
the OncoMate MSI Dx Analysis
System.
Dosimeters measure radiation
exposure, and astronauts wear
them in space to have an estimate of the
amount an individual is exposed to. But
dosimeters can't measure the impact of
that radiation on the body, according to
Honglu Wu. A Senior Scientist at NASA's
Johnson Space Center in Houston,
Wu specializes in biodosimetry, which
identifies levels of physiological, chemical,
and biological changes caused by
radiation exposure.
" The radiation type is different in
space, and we have limited knowledge
about the risks, especially for long-term
space missions to the Moon and Mars, "
he said. " We want to have some biodosimetry
information or some reliable
biomarkers to predict that risk. "
A biomarker is a biological molecule
found in the body that's a sign of a normal
or an abnormal process. One way
scientists can see changes is by comparing
samples of an astronaut's DNA taken
before leaving and after returning to
Earth. Those provide some information,
but it's still not enough.
" Using cancer as an example, by the
time you detect the markers for cancer,
it's already too late. We want to be able to
determine the risk sooner so we can take
48
some countermeasure actions earlier or
limit flight time, " said Wu.
A 2002 research study funded by NASA's
Office of Biological and Physical
Research explored the possibility that
specific sections of DNA, called microsatellites,
might accurately record radiation
damage over time.
While some microsatellites can mutate
and lead to disease, other microsatellites
can mutate without harmful effect to a
person. The latter are also more susceptible
to radiation damage. This means
they can accumulate radiation damage
and be used to identify an individual's
cumulative exposure level, making them
the first place to look, according to Jeff
Bacher, Senior Scientist with Fitchburg,
Wisconsin-based Promega Corporation.
He led the NASA-funded study at the
Brookhaven National Laboratory, which
consisted of exposing human cells and
mice to measure effects of radiation.
" The goal was to develop a method to
measure a personalized radiation exposure
using microsatellites as the indicator,
or marker, " said Bacher.
Under the NASA study, researchers
needed more sensitive indicators, leading
to the discovery that certain groups
www.techbriefs.com
Spinoff is NASA's annual publication featuring
successfully commercialized NASA technology. This
commercialization has contributed to the development
of products and services in the fields of health and
medicine, consumer goods, transportation, public safety,
computer technology, and environmental resources.
Space Radiation Research Fights Cancer on Earth
Research into a novel method for detecting molecular damage in astronaut DNA led to a
new cancer diagnostic test.
Identifying the type of a cancer tumor can help doctors choose the
best treatment. OncoMate MSI Dx Analysis System, developed by
Promega, uses the results of NASA-funded research to find changes in
DNA like those shown in this illustration to begin the diagnostic process.
(Image: Promega Corp.)
of long mononucleotide repeats
(LMRs), a type of microsatellite,
were their best option.
The research showed that as the
dose of radiation went up, the
mutation frequencies in these
parts of DNA also went up.
Because of the NASA research,
that set of LMRs helped
the team develop the FDA-approved
test OncoMate.
Using the knowledge they
gained from the NASA study,
the research team developed a
method to measure the number
of changes made to microsatellites
during DNA replication,
when cells divide. Cancer cells
with a significant number of
changes, a condition called microsatellite
instability (MSI)-high, can
indicate a genetic defect that could be
caused by Lynch syndrome and other
conditions. Finding that needle in the
genomic haystack is the first step in a
diagnosis.
A hereditary condition, Lynch syndrome
is a gene mutation that increases
the risk of colon, endometrial, stomach,
ovarian, and other cancers. An estimated
1 in 279 people have Lynch syndrome,
but most are unaware, according
to Bacher. In 2021, the FDA cleared
OncoMate MSI as a test to determine
MSI status in colorectal cancer tumors.
This preliminary test can identify the
need for Lynch syndrome screening
and a diagnosis, making it possible to
monitor and find some of the most
treatable forms of cancer.
Promega is now working with the
FDA to expand the use of OncoMate
as a companion diagnostic test. Once a
type of cancer is identified, OncoMate
will be used to determine if it will respond
well to immune oncology drugs,
according to Burkhouse.
For more information, visit https://
spinoff.nasa.gov/Space-RadiationResearch-Fights-Cancer-on-Earth.
Tech
Briefs, December 2022
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Tech Briefs Magazine - December 2022

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