DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) (DNA)

DNA is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Radiation, such as beta particles emitted by Yttrium-90, can induce various types of DNA damage, including single-strand breaks (SSBs), double-strand breaks (DSBs), base modifications, and clustered damages. These damages can lead to cell death, genomic instability, and mutations, making DNA a key target in cancer therapy. The effectiveness of Yttrium-90 is underpinned by its ability to cause irreparable DNA damage leading to cell death in targeted tumors. The cell death occurs either directly, or indirectly via ROS production. Repair pathways such as NHEJ and HRR are activated in response to radiation induced DNA damage.

Direct DNA damage (strand breaks, base modifications), indirect DNA damage via ROS generation