Ultra-weak delayed luminescence in cancer research: a review of the results by the ARETUSA equipment

J Photochem Photobiol B. 2014 Oct 5:139:76-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2014.03.027. Epub 2014 May 20.

Abstract

The study of the photoinduced ultraweak photon emission in the optical wavelength range, namely the Delayed Luminescence, from human cells and tissues has an increasingly growing interest in view of its possible application in optical biopsy. Due to the low level, dedicated experimental set-up are necessary to reveal such photoluminescence signal. The paper reviews the results obtained in the field of cancer research, by using the experimental equipment for fast ultraweak luminescence analysis ARETUSA developed at the National Southern Laboratories of the National Nuclear Physics Institute (LNS-INFN), in Catania, Italy. Delayed Luminescence signals from normal and cancer cells are compared and the relationship between Delayed Luminescence and apoptosis is investigated.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cancer diagnosis; Leukemia treatments; Modelling data; Photon detection; Ultraweak luminescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Measurements / instrumentation*
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / pathology*