Gamma histone 2AX (γ-H2AX)as a predictive tool in radiation oncology

Ionizing radiation cause DNA damage to cells, leading them to cell death via DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) formation. DSBs formation is followed immediately by histone H2AX phosphorylation (gamma-H2AX) and multitude repair factors accumulation. Here we present the methods and the bio-sampling for gamma-H2AX detection, gamma-H2AX formation in normal cells and animal tissues, in cancer cell lines/tissues and in clinical trials after radiation treatment, alone or in combination with other factors. The purpose of this review is to highlight the use of gamma-H2AX, as a marker to assess DNA damage and repair.