SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Radiosensitivity”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Radiosensitizer effect of wortmannin in radioresistant bladder tumoral cell lines.

This work analyzes the effectiveness of wortmannin in boosting the lethality induced by different doses of X-rays, using the colorimetric assay of MTT. Bladder tumoral cell lines differing in radiosensitivity and p53 status were used. Since wortmannin is able to inhibit DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) and rejoining of double-strand breaks (DSBs), we have analyzed the constitutive contents and expression after irradiation of the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK (DNA-PKcs) in our cell lines with the aim of explaining the differential effect of wortmannin as radiosensitizer. Considering that DNA-PK is the main protein complex involved in DNA DSB repair, the ability to remove DSBs after irradiation (with or without wortmannin) was evaluated in the different cell lines by the use of pulse-field gel electrophoresis. Our results indicate a higher radiosensitization in the radio-resistant cell line that shows both high constitutive contents of DNA-PKcs and a high rate of DNA repair by the fast component. In contrast, no radiosensitizer effect of wortmannin was observed in the radiosensitive cell line, previously characterized as defective in DSB repair by a low repair fidelity, and - as our results show - with low constitutive contents and later post-irradiation expression of DNA-PKcs. No clear effect related to p53 status of the cell line was observed. These results suggest that high constitutive contents of DNA-PKcs are indicative of radio-resistant phenotypes, and analysis of the expression of this protein could be helpful in the optimal establishment of wortmannin as radiosensitizer in bladder tumoral cell lines.

Androstadienes↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Differential cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme expression in radiosensitive versus radioresistant glioblastoma multiforme cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a high-grade primary brain tumor that is refractory to current forms of treatment. In cell studies, the growth rate of GBM cells correlates with the level of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme expression. COX-2 has been implicated in carcinogenesis of systemic cancers. Recently, COX-2 inhibition has been shown to increase the radiosensitivity of various tumors. We wished to assess whether the expression of COX-2 is greater in radioresistant versus radiosensitive forms of GBM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiosensitive (A172) and radioresistant (T98G) Glioblastoma multiforme cell lines were assayed for COX-2 expression using standard immunofluorescence histochemistry. Fluorescence readings were recorded per field. Western blot analysis was performed on both A172 and T98G GBM cell lines. The radioresistant cells were exposed to incremental doses of radiation in the presence and absence of a COX-2-selective inhibitor. Radioresistant cells were then exposed to incremental doses of COX-2-selective inhibitor at a constant dose of radiation. RESULTS: The radioresistant cell line T98G had an approximate 1. 7-fold greater expression of COX-2 than did the radiosensitive cell line A172, as per immunofluorescence histochemistry. Western blot analysis confirmed this finding. Statistical analysis (Bonferroni/Dunn) showed the results to be significant (p<0.0001). The wells containing radioresistant cells exposed to incremental doses of radiation and COX-2 inhibitors appeared to have higher cell kill when compared to radiation alone. Furthermore, increasing the COX-2 inhibitor concentration yielded higher cell kill. CONCLUSION: The results presented here show that the radioresistant GBM cell line, T98G, has a greater expression of COX-2 than does the radiosensitive GBM cell line, A172. These results suggest that: (i) COX-2 expression may serve as a marker for assessing radioresistance in GBM, (ii) COX-2 inhibition may lower the required doses of postoperative radiation, (iii) COX-2 inhibitors may have a role in radiosensitizing otherwise radioresistant forms of GBM.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMed2005

Misrejoined , residual double strand DNA breaks and radiosensitivity in human tumor cell lines.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study is to investigate whether differences between tumor cells in radiosensitivity are related to misrejoined- or residual DNA-double strand breaks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An assay that allows measurement of absolute induction frequencies for DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) in defined regions in the genome, and that quantitates rejoining of correct DNA ends has been used to study repair of DSBs in three human tumor cell lines. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were measured within a 3.5-Mbp Not 1 fragment on chromosome X of human tumor cell lines with different radiosensitivities. Correct rejoining of DSBs was measured by hybridization of single-copy DNA probe to Not 1 restriction fragments separated according to size by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Induction of DSBs is quantified from the decrease in the intensity of the hybridizing restriction fragment and an accumulation of a smear below the band. Rejoining of DSBs results in reconstitution of the intact restriction fragment only if correct DNA ends are joined. By comparing results from this technique with results from a conventional electrophoresis technique (FDR assay) that detects all rejoining events, it was possible to quantitate the misrejoining frequency after 50Gy of X irradiation. Residual breaks were measured 24h after irradiation. RESULTS: In terms of clonogenic assay, squamous cell carcinoma cell line (4451) was the most radiosensitive, followed by the breast carcinoma cell line (BB) while the bladder carcinoma cell line (RT112) was the most radioresistant. Twenty-four hours after irradiation, 4451 cell line accumulated the highest level of residual (non-repairable) DSB followed by BB and then RT112 cell line, which showed the lowest level of residual DSB. This was the same rank as in the radiosensitivity assay. Regarding DSB misrejoining, RT112 cell line showed the highest percent of incorrectly repaired DSB, which does not agree with the results of the radiosensitivity assay. CONCLUSION: From our data, it could be concluded that residual (non repairable) DSB is more important in terms of radiosensitivity than incorrectly repaired DSB.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2006

[Radiosensitization of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE1 by inhibiting the expression of ATM/PI3K functional region].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: It is reported that ATM gene is closely correlated to cellular radiosensitivity in several malignant tumors. Suppression of ATM protein expression leads to cellular radiosensitization. This study was to determine whether this effect also exists in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE1 by inhibiting the expression of ATM protein through antisense RNA of ATM/PI3K region, which is the most important functional fragment of ATM gene. METHODS: The recombinant pDOR-atm expressing antisense RNA of ATM/PI3K segment was constructed with retroviral vector pDOR. CNE1 cells were stably transfected with pDOR-atm by cationic liposome and named CNE1/pDOR-atm. Semi-quantitive RT-PCR was used to detect the level of ATM mRNA. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to analyze the percentage of positive cells and mean fluorescence density of protein expressing ATM. Cellular radiosensitivity was evaluated by colony survival assay (CSA) and linear-quadratic model in both CNE1/ pDOR-atm and control cells. RESULTS: The level of ATM mRNA index (RI) was 0.23+/-0.02 in CNE1/pDOR-atm group, and 0.51+/-0.03 in control group (P<0.05). The percentage of positive cells and mean fluorescence density of proteins expressing ATM were 70.8% and 1.81+/-0.12 in CNE1/pDOR-atm group, while 99.3% and 4.51+/-0.18 in control group(P<0.01). The expression of ATM mRNA and protein was inhibited by antisense RNA. The alpha value (one function from linear-quadratic model) of CNE1/pDOR-atm group was 0.40 Gy(-1), while it was 0.36 Gy(-1) in control group. The radiosensitizing ratio of surviving fraction at 2 Gy (SF(2)) was 3.0, indicating that antisense RNA group was more radiosensitive to X-ray than the controls. CONCLUSION: NPC cell line CNE1 could be radiosensitized by the down-regulation of ATM/PI3K expression.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins↗

PubMed2006

Constitutive NF-kappaB activity in colorectal cancer cells: impact on radiation-induced NF-kappaB activity, radiosensitivity, and apoptosis.

Constitutive NF-kappaB activity has been found in many cancer cells of different origin. In our study we focused on constitutive NF-kappaB activity and its impact on radiation-induced NF-kappaB activity, intrinsic radiosensitivity, and apoptosis. Using colorectal cancer cell lines (Caco-2, SW480, SW620) we demonstrated that each cell line expresses different level of constitutive NF-kappaB activity. Moreover, irradiation caused secondary NF-kappaB activation which differed in each cell line. The cell lines tested displayed also different intrinsic radiosensitivities as was determined by clonogenic assay, and different spontaneous and radiation-induced apoptosis determined by activity of caspase 3. Complex analysis of our results revealed that there was a strong correlation between constitutive NF-kappaB activity and radiation-induced NF-kappaB activity (r=0.835), the level of constitutive NF-kappaB activity predicted the level of secondary, radiation-induced NF-kappaB activity. Furthermore, SW620 cells with the highest level of constitutive NF-kappaB activity displayed the lowest radiosensitivity and the lowest level of spontaneous apoptosis; Caco-2 cells with almost undetectable level of constitutive NF-kappaB activity displayed the highest radiosensitivity and even highest level of spontaneous apoptosis. SW480 cells showed intermediate level of constitutive NF-kappaB activity, intermediate radiosensitivity and intermediate level of spontaneous apoptosis. Our data suggest that the level of constitutive NF-kappaB activity may predict radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells. Such prediction may allow the individualization of patient treatment by radiotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of EGFR antagonists gefitinib (Iressa) and C225 (Cetuximab) on MnSOD-plasmid liposome transgene radiosensitization of a murine squamous cell carcinoma cell line.

Radiation therapy of tumors of the head and neck region is compromised by dose limiting toxicity of normal tissues including the oral cavity and oropharyngeal mucosa. MnSOD-Plasmid Liposome (MnSOD-PL) intraoral gene therapy has been demonstrated to decrease normal tissue toxicity and also improve survival in mice with orthotopic SCC-VII squamous cell tumors on the floor of the mouth. Furthermore, intravenous administration of MnSOD-PL in mice with orthotopic tumors, or addition of MnSOD-PL to tumor cell lines in vitro produces a radiosensitizing effect attributable to differences in antioxidant pool responses of tumor cells compared to normal tissues following irradiation. To determine whether EGF receptor (EGFR) antagonists Iressa, or Cetuximab provided further improvement of radiation killing of squamous cell tumors, MnSOD-PL transfected or control SCCVII tumor cells were irradiated in vitro, and then the effect of EGFR receptor antagonists was tested. Cells transfected with MnSOD-PL were relatively radiosensitive D0 = 1.244 +/- 0.126 Gy compared to control D0 = 3.246 +/- 0.087 (p < 0.0001). Clonogenic radiation survival curves of SCCVII cells demonstrated radiosensitization by Iressa D0 = 2.770 +/- 0.134 Gy (p = 0.0264), but no significant radiosensitizing effect of Cetuximab D0 = 3.193 +/- 0.309 (p = 0.7338). The combination of MnSOD-PL plus Iressa further increased radiosensitivity of SCC-VII cells in vitro D0 = 0.785 +/- 0.01064 (p < 0.0001). The results suggest some synergy of the effectiveness of the EGFR antagonist Iressa on increasing the radiation killing of SCC-VII cells that supplements MnSOD-PL tumor radiosensitization.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Mechanism of radiosensitization by halogenated pyrimidines: bromodeoxyuridine and beta-arabinofuranosyladenine affect similar subsets of radiation-induced potentially lethal lesions in plateau-phase Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were grown to plateau phase in the presence of various amounts of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and treated after irradiation with beta-arabinofuranosyladenine (ara-A), an inhibitor of DNA and potentially lethal damage (PLD) repair, in order to investigate the importance of repair reactions in general and of PLD repair, in particular, on the mechanism of radiosensitization by halogenated pyrimidines. The degree of BrdU-mediated radiosensitization observed in ara-A-treated cells was compared to that of cells incubated after irradiation in the absence of ara-A. A substantial reduction in BrdU-mediated radiosensitization was observed in cells treated with ara-A at concentrations that, when given alone, produced maximum potentiation in cell killing (500-1500 microM). The residual BrdU-mediated radiosensitization observed at high levels of thymidine replacement could be explained by a BrdU-mediated increase in DNA and chromosome damage induction per gray. These findings are similar to those reported previously for a repair-deficient mutant of CHO cells, the xrs-5 cell line, and consistent with the hypothesis that BrdU-mediated radiosensitization has two distinct components, one that derives from an increase in damage induction per gray, and a second one that derives from an effect of BrdU on the repair of radiation-induced damage. It is proposed that the reduction in BrdU-mediated radiosensitization observed in ara-A-treated cells is the result of ara-A-mediated expression of radiation damage, the repair of which would have been otherwise modulated by BrdU. Since ara-A is known to act by fixing a form of radiation-induced PLD (alpha-PLD), we further propose that BrdU acts by fixing alpha-PLD. A synergistic effect in the potentiation of cell killing was observed between ara-A and BrdU when ara-A was given at concentrations below 100 microM. This result suggests that a benefit may be expected in the clinic from the combined application of halogenated pyrimidines with repair inhibitors, if administered at a carefully screened range of concentrations.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Induction and rejoining of DNA double-strand breaks in human cervix carcinoma cell lines of differing radiosensitivity.

Five recently established cell lines of human carcinoma of the cervix of varying radiosensitivity have been used to determine whether the induction or rejoining of DNA double-strand breaks (dsb) shows any correlation with radiosensitivity or radiation recovery capacity. Double-strand DNA breaks have been measured using neutral filter elution at pH 9.6. The number of breaks induced immediately after irradiation with doses of 10 to 40 Gy 60Co gamma rays appeared to show some correlation with radiosensitivity particularly after 10 Gy; the two more radiosensitive lines incurred more breaks than the more radioresistant lines. In addition, the shape of the induction curve with dose was linear for the two sensitive lines but curvilinear for the resistant lines. Despite the dose scales being different, this mirrored their respective cell survival curve shapes. After 30 or 50 Gy irradiation, rejoining of breaks appeared to be rapid and almost complete within 60 min at 37 degrees C for the three resistant lines. However, for the sensitive lines, one line (HX160c) in particular exhibited a reduced rate of dsb rejoining. In addition, a residual level of dsb was present in this line even after allowing rejoining for 3 h. While induction and rejoining of DNA dsb therefore appears to be a factor in determining radiosensitivity, at doses relevant to cellular survival (up to 10 Gy), the greater induction of DNA dsb in radiosensitive lines may play a significant role in determining the cellular response to ionizing radiation.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1978

Hypoxic cell radiosensitization by 8-methoxypsoralen.

8-Methoxypsoralen has been shown to act as a radiosensitizer of hypoxic bacteriophage and bacteria. Radiosensitization of bacteriophage requires irradiation in the presence of excess scavenger. Bacterial radiosensitization requires deficiencies in uvr and rec genes. For the drug to be effective it must be present during irradiation. Pulse radiolysis studies have shown that, like electron-affinic radiosensitizers, 8MOP can efficiently oxidize free radicals. Unlike oxygen and most electron-affinic radiosensitizers 8MOP does not act in a purely dose-modifying fashion, and can radiosensitize beyond the oxygen effect.

Coliphages↗

PubMed1987

Radiosensitization in multifraction schedules. II. Greater sensitization by 2-nitroimidazoles than by oxygen.

The objective of this study was to characterize the extent of and mechanisms involved in radiosensitization by 2-nitroimidazoles in multifraction schedules using low doses per fraction. For this purpose, contact-inhibited monolayers of C3H 10T1/2 cells were given 1.7 Gy every 12 h and plated 12 h after the last dose received to allow full repair of potentially lethal damage (PLD). Severe hypoxia was obtained by a 1-h gassing procedure at room temperature immediately before each irradiation. No toxicity occurred as a consequence of multiple exposures to 5 mM misonidazole (MISO) or SR 2508 (2508) during the deoxygenation procedure. Experimental conditions during the pregassing and irradiation (presence of drug and gas mixture) were appropriately manipulated to test for the different mechanisms of radiosensitization demonstrated by nitroimidazoles. A very low oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) results under these conditions (1.34). Exposure to 5 mM MISO or 2508 during the deoxygenation and irradiation of hypoxic cells resulted in greater radiosensitization than could be accounted for by oxygen-mimetic sensitization alone (MISO and 2508 enhancement ratios were greater than the OER). Pregassing cells with N2 in the presence of 5 mM drug sensitized cells which were subsequently irradiated under aerobic conditions (drug free), indicating the occurrence of the "preincubation effect" (which does not require hypoxia or the drug's presence during the irradiation). Thus, for the hypoxic irradiations, the preincubation effect could account for the greater sensitization by nitroimidazoles than by oxygen. The presence of 5 mM drug only during the irradiation of aerobic cells produced radiosensitization in both multifraction and single-dose experiments with delayed plating. This sensitization has been previously shown to involve reduced PLD repair. Finally, maximum radiosensitization occurred in the multifraction schedule when a transient period of hypoxia with drug preceded an aerobic irradiation with drug present, thus combining the benefits of both the preincubation effect and PLD repair inhibition. This work demonstrates the possibility that effects other than oxygen-mimetic radiosensitization could be largely responsible for the sensitization seen in multifraction schedules, particularly when the OER is already low and only transient periods of hypoxia occur.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Radiosensitization, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of a 2-nitroimidazole nucleoside (RA-263).

A 2-nitroimidazole nucleoside, 1-(2',3'-dideoxy-alpha-D-erythro-hex-2'-enopyranosyl)-2-nitroimida zole (RA-263), has been investigated for its radiosensitization, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity properties. The in vitro radiosensitization tests against hypoxic Chinese hamster (V-79) cells demonstrated that RA-263 was a more potent radiosensitizer than misonidazole and at 2 mM concentration approached the oxic curve. Significant in vitro radiosensitization activity was also observed in EMT6 mammary tumor cells. The in vitro cytotoxicity data suggested that RA-263 is considerably more toxic to hypoxic cells than misonidazole. The increased cytotoxicity may be related to its higher depletion of nonprotein thiols (NPSH) than misonidazole. The combined effects of radiosensitization and hypoxic cell toxicity were measured by preincubation of the V-79 cells for 4 h under hypoxic conditions before irradiation. The results demonstrated a synergistic response by causing a significant decrease in the extrapolation number with loss of shoulder of the radiation survival curves. The in vivo radiosensitization experiments conducted by the in vivo-in vitro cloning assay with the EMT6 mammary tumor indicate that RA-263 is an effective sensitizer. Pharmacokinetic data suggested that RA-263 was eliminated from plasma by a rapid alpha phase and a slower beta phase with T 1/2 of 36 and 72 min, respectively. The concentration in the brain was approximately one-sixth of tumor concentration, suggesting that RA-263 is excluded from the CNS. Moreover, RA-263 was two times less toxic than misonidazole on equimolar basis by acute LD50 tests. This agent was also significantly less mutagenic than misonidazole in a strain of Escherichia coli.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Effects of glutathione depletion by buthionine sulfoximine on radiosensitization by oxygen and misonidazole in vitro.

Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) has been used to deplete glutathione (GSH) in V79-379A cells in vitro, and the effect on the efficiency of oxygen and misonidazole (MISO) as radiosensitizers has been determined. Treatment with 50 or 500 microM BSO caused a rapid decline in GSH content to less than 5% of control values after 10 hr of exposure (t1/2 = 1.6 hr). Removal of BSO resulted in a rapid regeneration of GSH after 50 microM BSO, but little regeneration was observed over the subsequent 10-hr period after 500 microM. Treatment with either of these two concentrations of BSO for up to 14 hr did not affect cell growth or viability. Cells irradiated in monolayer on glass had an oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) of 3.1. After 10-14 hr pretreatment with 50 microM BSO, washed cells were radiosensitized by GSH depletion at all oxygen tensions tested. The OER was reduced to 2.6, due to greater radiosensitization of hypoxic cells than aerated ones by GSH depletion. GSH depletion had the effect of shifting the enhancement ratio vs pO2 curve to lower oxygen tensions, making oxygen appear more efficient by a factor of approximately 2, based on the pO2 required to give an OER of 2.0. In similar experiments performed with MISO, an enhancement ratio of 2.0 could be achieved with 0.2 mM MISO in anoxic BSO-pretreated cells, compared to 2.7 mM MISO in non-BSO-treated cells. Thus MISO appeared to be more efficient in GSH-depleted cells by a factor of 13.5. These apparent increases in radiosensitizer efficiency in GSH-depleted cells could be explained on the basis of radiosensitization of hypoxic cells by GSH depletion alone (ER = 1.29-1.41). The effect of GSH depletion was approximately equal at all sensitizer concentrations tested, except at high oxygen tensions, where the effect was insignificantly small. These results are consistent with hypoxic cell radiosensitization by GSH depletion and by MISO or oxygen acting by separate mechanisms.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Hyperthermic killing and hyperthermic radiosensitization in Chinese hamster ovary cells: effects of pH and thermal tolerance.

To quantitatively relate heat killing and heat radiosensitization, asynchronous or G1 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells at pH 7.1 or 6.75 were heated and/or X-irradiated 10 min later. Since no progression of G1 cells into S phase occurred during the heat and radiation treatments, cell cycle artifacts were minimized. However, results obtained for asynchronous and G1 cells were similar. Hyperthermic radiosensitization was expressed as the thermal enhancement factor (TEF), defined as the ratio of the D0 of the radiation survival curve to that of the D0 of the radiation survival curve for heat plus radiation. The TEF increased continuously with increased heat killing at 45.5 degrees C, and for a given amount of heat killing, the amount of heat radiosensitization was the same for both pH's. When cells were heated chronically at 42.4 degrees C at pH 7.4, the TEF increased initially to 2.0-2.5 and then returned to near 1.0 during continued heating as thermal tolerance developed for both heat killing and heat radiosensitization. However, the shoulder (Dq) of the radiation survival curve for heat plus radiation did not manifest thermal tolerance; i.e., it decreased continuously with increased heat killing, independent of temperature, pH, or the development of thermotolerance. These results suggest that heat killing and heat radiosensitization have a target(s) in common (TEF results), along with either a different target(s) or a difference in the manifestation of heat damage (Dq results). For clinical considerations, the interaction between heat and radiation was expressed as (1) the thermal enhancement ratio (TER), which is the dose of X rays alone divided by the dose of X rays combined with heat to obtain an isosurvival, e.g., 10(-4), and (2) the thermal gain factor (TGF), the ratio of the TER at pH 6.75 to the TER at pH 7.4. Since low pH reduced the rate of development of thermal tolerance during heating at low temperatures, low pH enhanced heat killing more at 42-42.5 degrees C than at 45.5 degrees C where thermal tolerance did not develop. Therefore, the increase in the TGF after chronic heating at 42-42.5 degrees C was greater than after acute heating at 45.5 degrees C, due primarily to the increase in heat killing causing an even greater increase in heat radiosensitization. These findings agree with animal experiments suggesting that in the clinic, a therapeutic gain for tumor cells at low pH may be greater for temperatures of 42-42.5 degrees C than of 45.5 degrees C.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

The interaction of hydroxyurea and iododeoxyuridine on the radiosensitivity of human bladder cancer cells.

Biochemical modulation of iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd) incorporation into the DNA of tumor cells is a potential clinical strategy to enhance radiosensitivity and to simultaneously differentiate the sensitivity of rapidly proliferating tumor cells and more slowly proliferating adjacent normal tissues to radiation. The interactions of hydroxyurea (HU) and IdUrd were studied in a human bladder cancer cell line, 647V. Exposure of exponentially growing 647V cells to HU concentrations of 10-100 microM for one cell population doubling (24 h) resulted in no cytotoxicity as assessed by clonogenic survival. Flow cytometric analysis showed a significant increase in an early S-phase population after a 12-h exposure but a return to a normal cell cycle distribution after a 24-h exposure to 100 microM HU. Incorporation of IdUrd into DNA was increased 2-fold by coincubation with HU (100 microM) and a clinically achievable concentration of IdUrd (2 microM) for 24 h. To elucidate the mechanism of modulation, IdUTP pools were compared in 647V cells treated with 2 microM IdUrd with or without 100 microM HU. A 2-fold increase in IdUTP pools was evident within 2 h when this drug combination was used. With the use of multivariate statistical analysis, the radiosensitivity of 647V cells was compared after a 24-h exposure to various concentrations of IdUrd (0 and 2 microM) and HU (0, 10, and 100 microM). A 24-h exposure to 100 microM HU alone or to 2 microM IdUrd alone before irradiation resulted in significant (P < 0.02) radiosensitization with sensitizer enhancement ratios of 1.15 and 1.27, respectively. A 24-h exposure to 100 microM HU + 2 microM IdUrd resulted in even more significant (P = 0.001) radiosensitization, which was found to be a greater than additive response (sensitizer enhancement ratio, 1.76 observed compared with 1.37 expected). No radiosensitization was found with a 12-h exposure to 100 microM HU alone. The mechanism of biochemical modulation of IdUrd by a noncytotoxic dose of HU is proposed as increasing the IdUTP pools by stimulating enzymes in the thymidine salvage pathway and subsequently enhancing IdUrd incorporation and radiosensitization.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMed1994

Radiosensitivity of CD45RO+ memory and CD45RO- naive T cells in culture.

Radiosensitivities of various human T-cell subsets were investigated by a proliferation assay and by a single-cell gel electrophoresis assay. Each T-cell subset was purified using a cell sorter and was induced to proliferate by ionomycin and interleukin 2. Unsorted T cells showed biphasic dose-survival curves, indicating the heterogeneity of T cells in terms of radiosensitivity. Purified CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T cells showed similar biphasic dose-survival curves. Hence both T-cell subsets were composed of cells of different radiosensitivity. The T-cell subsets belonging to different activation stages such as CD45RO+ memory and CD45RO- naive T cells had different dose-survival curves. The former was more radiosensitive than the latter. The high radiosensitivity of CD45RO+ cells was also demonstrated by single-cell gel electrophoresis after irradiation. This is the first demonstration that a particular cell surface marker on T cells is correlated with greater radiosensitivity.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1996

Assessment of light scatter by nucleoids as a rapid predictive assay of radiosensitivity.

A study has been made of the practicality of using the assay of light scatter by nucleoids as a rapid predictive test of cellular radiosensitivity. With this technique the effect of irradiation on DNA organization is measured using flow cytometry after staining irradiated nucleoids with a high concentration of ethidium bromide. Damaged nucleoids fail to respond to the ethidium bromide-induced contraction and scatter more forward-angle light than less damaged nucleoids. Seventeen different cell lines were assessed using a single lysis condition and radiation dose. Significant differences in the levels of radiation-induced forward-angle light scatter by nucleoids were seen between CHO cells and cells of two radiosensitive mutant cell lines (xrs-6, EM9), and between cells of two ovarian carcinoma lines that showed marked differences in radiosensitivity measured using a clonogenic assay. However, other cell lines which differed in clonogenic radiosensitivity showed similar forward-angle light scatter by nucleoids. When all 17 cell lines were included in the analysis, there was no correlation between measurements of radiosensitivity by assays of clonogenicity and light scatter by nucleoids. In addition, although intraexperimental variation was small, the level of interexperimental variability was only slightly smaller (coefficient of variation of 13%) than the degree of heterogeneity observed between the different cell lines (coefficient of variation of 16%). These findings support the notion for a role of nuclear structure as a determinant of intrinsic radiosensitivity for some cell lines but suggest that for others there must be additional, more dominant factors.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

The micronucleus assay of lymphocytes is a useful predictive assay of the radiosensitivity of normal tissue: a study of three inbred strains of mice.

Radiation sensitivity was measured by the micronucleus assay in T lymphocytes of the spleen and in fibroblasts derived from three inbred strains of mice, BALB/c, A/J and C3H/He. A linear correlation between the surviving fraction and the micronucleus frequency was obtained. There were clear differences in the radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes and of fibroblasts from the different strains of mice. T lymphocytes and fibroblasts from BALB/c mice were more radiosensitive than those from A/J and C3H/He mice. To explore the correlation between the radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes and of fibroblasts in vitro and the reaction of normal tissue to radiation, the survival ofjejunal crypt stem cells from the three mouse strains was determined using a microcolony assay. The jejunal crypt cells of BALB/c mice were more radiosensitive than those of A/J and C3H/He mice. Thus the order of radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes and fibroblasts in vitro corresponds to the sensitivity ofjejunal crypt cells in vivo. Our results suggest that determining the radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes and fibroblasts in vitro may be useful in predicting the magnitude of radiation-induced damage in the small intestine.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Differential retinoic acid radiosensitization of cervical carcinoma cell lines.

The potential of retinoic acid as a radiosensitizer was investigated using SiHa and CC-1 human uterine cervical carcinoma cell lines, representative of high- and low-grade lesions, respectively. SiHa was significantly (P < 0.05) radiosensitized, whereas CC-1 was not. Although 48 h of treatment with 5 microM 13-cis-retinoic acid prior to irradiation was sufficient to induce radiosensitization, continuation of treatment after irradiation significantly increased the effect (P < 0.05). Three hypotheses were tested to explain the different responses of the two lines. One hypothesis was that SiHa is more sensitive to retinoic acid than CC-1. Measurement of growth revealed that SiHa was more sensitive to growth inhibition by retinoic acid than CC-1. The second hypothesis was that retinoic acid increases the proportion of G1-phase cells in SiHa but not in CC-1. This was found not to be true, because a retinoic acid treatment schedule that induced radiosensitization did not alter cell cycle distribution profiles in the absence of radiation. The third hypothesis was that retinoic acid alters the cell cycle response of SiHa but not CC-1 to radiation. Postirradiation cell cycle profiles revealed that retinoic acid increased G1 delay in SiHa, whereas CC-1 exhibited no significant G1 delay. Both lines exhibited G2 delays that were unaffected by retinoic acid. In conclusion, radiosensitization of SiHa but not CC-1 may be explained by different sensitivities to retinoic acid and differences in postirradiation cell cycle responses. Radiosensitization at radiation doses used clinically was observed when retinoic acid was administered both before and after irradiation.

Cell Cycle↗