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The cellular response to cisplatin was assessed in human osteosarcoma cells, using synchrotron-based (SR) Fourier Transform InfraRed nanospectroscopy (nano-FTIR) at the MIRIAM beamline B22 of Diamond Light Source (UK). This label-free mapping method delivered simultaneous morphological and biochemical information on a subcellular level (i.e. 100 s nanometer or better). Based on specific spectral biomarkers, the main biochemical constituents affected by the drug were identified at distinct locations within the cell´s inner body. Cisplatin was shown to have a noteworthy effect on proteins, mostly within the cytoplasm. A clear drug impact on cellular lipids was also observed. Within current literature on s-SNOM, this nanospectroscopy work represents a first successful application in life sciences providing full fingerprint nano-FTIR spectra across intact human cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This opinion piece discusses the limitations of the current cytotoxic dosing methods and how advanced body measurement techniques could be used by oncology practitioners to determine cytotoxic chemotherapy dosages for patients, regardless of their body size. Within chemotherapy, estimates of a patient's body surface area (BSA) are used to calculate drug dosages. However, the use of BSA for calculating chemotherapy dosage has been heavily criticised in previous literature, with potentially significant implications for the effectiveness and toxicity of treatment. BSA has been found to be a poor indicator of optimal drug exposure that does not account for the complex processes of cytotoxic drug distribution and elimination. In addition, differences in BSA estimates between existing formulae have been shown to be so large that they can affect patients' mortality, particularly in patients with atypical body types. This uncertainty associated with BSA prediction may decrease the confidence of practitioners when determining chemotherapy dosages, particularly with regards to the risk of excess toxicity from over-dosing, or a reduced anti-cancer effect due to under-dosing. The use of national dose-banding in the UK may in some cases account for possible inaccuracies, but the threshold of variance in this case is small (+/−6%). Advanced body measurement techniques, utilising digital tools such as three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging, capture accurate external dimensions and detailed shape characteristics of the human body. Measures of body shape describe morphological variations that cannot be identified by traditional anthropometric techniques and improve the prediction of total body fat and distribution. It is our view that the use of advanced body measurement techniques can provide practitioners with tools for prescribing chemotherapy dosages that are valid for individuals, regardless of their body type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]