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[Radiosensitization by hypoxic cell radiosensitizer--present status of radiosensitizer].

Because of the unsuccessful clinical trials of misonidazole (MISO), many efforts have been made to find a new hypoxic cell sensitizer which is more effective and/or less toxic than MISO. In Japan, RK-28 is already under going Phase II clinical evaluation and RP-170, KU-2285 and KIH-802 have been proven to be effective both in vitro and in vivo and are also waiting further clinical trials. But in U.S.A. and England, etanidazole (SR-2508) and pimonidazole (Ro 03-8799) are under going Phase III evaluation and clinical evaluation of SR-2508 will be key opened in early next year. Now, an appropriate goal for a new radiosensitizer would be more effective and/or less toxic than SR-2508 or clinically more useful than SR-2508. Clinical trials of SR-2508 have been performed using intravenous injection, however it may be difficult to give a sensitizer intravenously on a daily basis in accordance with requirements for standard fractionated radiotherapy in a clinical setting. In contrast, RP-170 and KU-2285 have the potential to produce considerable radiosensitization under both intravenous and oral administration.

Cell Hypoxia↗

Homologous recombination as a potential target for caffeine radiosensitization in mammalian cells: reduced caffeine radiosensitization in XRCC2 and XRCC3 mutants.

The radiosensitizing effect of caffeine has been associated with the disruption of multiple DNA damage-responsive cell cycle checkpoints, but several lines of evidence also implicate inhibition of DNA repair. The role of DNA repair inhibition in caffeine radiosensitization remains uncharacterized, and it is unknown which repair process, or lesion, is affected. We show that a radiosensitive cell line, mutant for the RAD51 homolog XRCC2 and defective in homologous recombination repair (HRR), displays significantly diminished caffeine radiosensitization that can be restored by expression of XRCC2. Despite the reduced radiosensitization, caffeine effectively abrogates checkpoints in S and G2 phases in XRCC2 mutant cells indicating that checkpoint abrogation is not sufficient for radiosensitization. Another radiosensitive line, mutant for XRCC3 and defective in HRR, similarly shows reduced caffeine radiosensitization. On the other hand, a radiosensitive mutant (irs-20) of DNA-PKcs with a defect in non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is radiosensitized by caffeine to an extent comparable to wild-type cells. In addition, rejoining of radiation-induced DNA DSBs, that mainly reflects NHEJ, remains unaffected by caffeine in XRCC2 and XRCC3 mutants, or their wild-type counterparts. These observations suggest that caffeine targets steps in HRR but not in NHEJ and that abrogation of checkpoint response is not sufficient to explain radiosensitization. Indeed, immortalized fibroblasts from AT patients show caffeine radiosensitization despite the checkpoint defects associated with ATM mutation. We propose that caffeine radiosensitization is mediated by inhibition of stages in DNA DSB repair requiring HRR and that checkpoint disruption contributes by allowing these DSBs to transit into irreparable states. Thus, checkpoints may contribute to genomic stability by promoting error-free HRR.

Animals↗

Mechanism of radiosensitization by halogenated pyrimidines: the contribution of excess DNA and chromosome damage in BrdU radiosensitization may be minimal in plateau-phase cells.

We measured the contribution of increased DNA double-strand break (dsb) and interphase chromosome break induction in BrdU-mediated radiosensitization in exponentially growing (DNA dsb measurements only) and plateau-phase Chinese hamster ovary cells using an approach developed by Webb et al. (1993). The approach is based on the scavenging capacity of acetone for hydrated electrons, which are thought to react with bromine and form excess DNA and chromosome damage in BrdU-containing cells. In irradiated exponentially growing cells, acetone (1 M) removes the majority of excess DNA dsb induced in the presence of 4 microM BrdU (approximately 40% replacement of thymidine by BrdU), but does not restore cell radiosensitivity to the levels observed in BrdU-free cells. Although BrdU radiosensitizes cells by decreasing both D0 and Dq of the survival curve, acetone only restores D0 to levels measured in BrdU-free cells, but leaves Dq at levels measured in BrdU-containing cells. In plateau-phase cells, acetone removes the majority of excess DNA dsb and interphase chromosome breaks induced in the presence of 4 microM BrdU (approximately 50% replacement of thymidine by BrdU) but has only a small effect on BrdU-mediated radiosensitization to killing. These observations suggest that increased DNA damage production has a variable contribution in BrdU radiosensitization: it constitutes a major, albeit not the sole, component in the radiosensitization of exponentially growing cells, but only a minor component in the radiosensitization of plateau-phase cells. The results suggest that BrdU radiosensitization does not derive exclusively from increased DNA damage induction and support our previous hypothesis invoking repair inhibition/damage fixation as a component in the mechanism of radiosensitization. The results further suggest that repair inhibition is a major component in BrdU radiosensitization in exponentially growing cells, but the main cause of radiosensitization in plateau-phase cells.

Acetone↗

Tumour radiosensitization by high-oxygen-content gases: influence of the carbon dioxide content of the inspired gas on PO2, microcirculatory function and radiosensitivity.

PURPOSE: To measure the effects of breathing high-oxygen-content gases, with a CO2 fraction of between 0 and 10%, on tumour radiosensitivity, blood flow and oxygenation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The murine sarcoma F was used, implanted subcutaneously (s.c.) in syngeneic CBA mice. We assessed the induced changes in tumour microregional blood flow and oxygenation using laser Doppler flowmetry, and pO2 histography, respectively. Radiation response was determined using an in vivo-in vitro clonogenic assay 18-20 h post treatment. RESULTS: The results show that the level of radiosensitization achieved is dependent on both the CO2 content of the inspired gas and the duration of gas breathing. No radiosensitization was evident following inhalation of 90% O2 + 10% CO2. All other gases elicited radiosensitization; however, that achieved with 100% O2 disappeared at the extended preirradiation breathing time of 45 min. At this time, radiosensitization was maintained for gases containing 1%, 2.5%, or 5% CO2. Changes in oxygenation, as measured by PO2 electrodes, did indicate improved oxygenation status during inhalation of the gases. However, the time-course and extent of the changes did not mirror accurately the changes in radiosensitization. All the gases with a CO2 content of 2.5% or greater induced a 10-20% reduction in microregional blood flow, with no change evident following inhalation of 100% O2 or 99% O2 + 1% CO2. CONCLUSIONS: The data imply that the decreased radiosensitization seen at extended breathing times of oxygen is unrelated to blood flow changes. The fact that radiosensitization is seen with extended breathing times of gases containing 2.5% and 5% CO2, despite blood flow decreases, is indicative of other overriding physiological changes, perhaps related to oxygen utilisation. The studies overall indicate that, at least in the tumour investigated, radiosensitization is not affected if the CO2 content of the inspired gas is reduced from 5% to 2.5%, or even 1%. Further evaluation of the radiosensitizing effects of such gas mixtures is now warranted. In addition, comparison with recent studies of other tumour types, where carbogen has been shown to improve tumour blood flow, suggests that this may be a tumour-specific phenomenon. Based on these data, further effort is required to elucidate the physiological mechanisms that determine these blood flow changes.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Does skin fibroblast radiosensitivity predict squamous cancer cell radiosensitivity of the same individual?

Individualization of radiation doses is presumed to result in better radiotherapy outcome. Success rate in measuring radiosensitivity is probably the most limiting factor for present radiosensitivity assays to be introduced into clinical routine. To find a simpler predictive parameter, we compared the radiosensitivity of dermal fibroblasts and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines established from the same individuals. The radiosensitivity was tested using the clonogenic 96-well plate assay. The surviving fraction at 2.0 Gy (SF2) was determined, as well as the mean inactivation dose (AUC) of cancer cells. SF2 of SCC cell lines and skin fibroblasts were 0.25-0.44 and 0.11-0.43, respectively. AUC of SCC cells was 1.4-2.1 Gy. Dermal fibroblasts were more radiosensitive than SCC cells in 14 of 15 cases. In 1 patient (UT-SCC-8), cancer cells were found to be more radiosensitive than corresponding dermal fibroblasts. There was a clear tendency to a correlation between radiosensitivities of these 2 cell types, but statistical significance was reached only when the data of UT-SCC-8 was excluded. In our material, the intrinsic radiosensitivity of head and neck SCC cells could in most cases be predicted from the intrinsic radiosensitivity of dermal fibroblasts established from the same individual.

Adult↗

The role of cell cycle redistribution in radiosensitization: implications regarding the mechanism of fluorodeoxyuridine radiosensitization.

PURPOSE: Radiosensitization has previously been demonstrated in a human colon cancer cell line (HT-29) following a 2 h exposure to low, clinically relevant concentrations (0.05-0.5 microM) of fluorodeoxyuridine (FdUrd) (15). The sensitizer enhancement ratio value (measured at 10% survival) plateaued at approximately 1.7 between 16 and 32 h following removal of drug. Parallel studies investigating the effect of FdUrd on the distribution of cells throughout the cell cycle found that the percentage of cells in early S-phase increased to approximately 70% during the same period that maximal radiosensitization was noted. As a follow-up to these findings, experiments have been designed to investigate the contribution of this early S-phase delay to radiosensitization. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Synchronized populations of HT-29 cells have been obtained with three separate techniques. Two involve the induction of a reversible metaphase arrest (with high pressure N2O or colcemid) followed by a shakeoff of mitotic cells. The third uses a plant amino acid, mimosine, to induce a reversible block at the G1/S boundary. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the degree of synchrony based on bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) uptake and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Radiation survival curves were obtained on these synchronized populations to investigate changes in radiosensitivity through the cell cycle. Additionally, levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), the primary target of FdUrd cytotoxicity, were measured in each phase of the cell cycle using the TS 106 monoclonal antibody against human TS. RESULTS: Synchronization with mitotic shakeoff produced relatively pure populations of cells in G1; however, the degree of synchrony in early S-phase was limited both by cells remaining in G1 and by cells progressing into late S-phase. These techniques failed to reveal increased radiosensitivity in early S-phase at 10% survival. An 18 h exposure to mimosine resulted in populations that more closely resembled the early S-phase enrichment following FdUrd exposure and revealed increased radiosensitivity during early S-phase. TS levels were noted to be only 1.3 times higher in S phase than in G0/G1. CONCLUSION: Radiation survival data from cells synchronized with mitotic shakeoff techniques suggest that early S-phase delay is unlikely to be the primary mechanism of FdUrd radiosensitization. In contrast, the increased sensitivity seen in early S-phase with mimosine synchronized cells is similar to that seen with FdUrd. Although confounding biochemical pertubations cannot be ruled out, these data continue to suggest an association between early S-phase enrichment and radiosensitization. The significance of TS inhibition as a mechanism of FdUrd radiosensitization remains unclear.

Cell Cycle↗

Cancer predisposition, radiosensitivity and the risk of radiation-induced cancers. III. Effects of incomplete penetrance and dose-dependent radiosensitivity on cancer risks in populations.

Recent studies have identified a number of genes in the human genome at which germinal mutations predispose the individuals to one or another type of cancer. These studies also show that not all individuals carrying the mutant genes develop cancers (i.e., the mutant genes are not fully penetrant). At least some of these predisposed genotypes also have a higher sensitivity to cancers induced by ionizing radiation than those who are not so predisposed, which may be dependent on dose. This paper presents an analysis of the impact of such heterogeneity on estimates of cancer risks for an irradiated population. This is done by extending the Mendelian one-locus, two-allele model of cancer predisposition and radiosensitivity developed earlier to allow for incomplete penetrance and dose dependence of radiosensitivity differentials among genotypes. The model is applied to recently published data for breast cancer and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer using a range of possible values for the strength of predisposition and radiosensitivity differentials. It is shown that, after radiation exposures, the ratio of cancer risks in a heterogeneous population relative to that in a homogeneous population increases with increasing dose, but that the dose dependence of the relative risk diminishes at higher doses. Likewise, the attributable risk (i.e. the proportion of the increase in risk that is due to both increased susceptibility and increased radiosensitivity) and the proportion of attributable risk due to increased radiosensitivity also increase with dose, and the dose dependence of each measurement also diminishes at higher doses. However, when the proportion of cancers due to the susceptible genotypes is small (<10%) (as is likely to be the case for breast cancer in non-Ashkenazi women), the increases in the relative risk and attributable risk are marked only when there are very large increases in cancer susceptibility (>1000-fold) and radiosensitivity (>100-fold) in the susceptible group. When the proportion of cancers due to the susceptible genotypes is appreciable (> or = 10%) (as may be the case for breast cancer in Ashkenazi Jewish women), there may be large increases in the relative risk and attributable risk for comparatively modest increases in cancer susceptibility (>10-fold) and radiosensitivity (>100-fold) in the susceptible subpopulation. For any given combination of strength of predisposition and radiosensitivity differential, incomplete penetrance dilutes the effect.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Fluorinated 2-nitroimidazole derivative hypoxic cell radiosensitizers: radiosensitizing activities and pharmacokinetics.

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of incorporation of a CF2 group into the side chain of a 2-nitroimidazole derivative, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo radiosensitizing activities of KU-2285 (a 2-nitroimidazole derivative with an N1-substituent of -CH2CF2CONH(CH2)nOH, n = 2) and its related compounds in comparison with those of comparable nonfluorinated compounds. The pharmacokinetics of these compounds in murine tumors was also tested. METHODS AND MATERIALS: KU-2285, KU-3202 (n = 3) and KU-3207 (n = 4) are fluorinated 2-nitroimidazole derivative compounds with similar structures. Etanidazole (a 2-nitroimidazole derivative with an N1-substituent of -CH2CONH(CH2)nOH, n = 2) and its related compounds, KU-3205 (n = 3) and KU-3206 (n = 4) were also tested. The in vitro radiosensitizing activities of each compound for hypoxic cells was evaluated with a standard colony formation method. The in vivo radiosensitizing activities of these compounds were tested in female C3H/He mice bearing SCCVII tumors using an in vivo/in vitro clonogenic assay. The pharmacokinetic studies were performed in C3H/He mice bearing the SCCVII tumor. Samples were analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The in vitro radiosensitizing activities of fluorinated 2-nitroimidazoles were higher than those of the nonfluorinated compounds. Although the in vivo radiosensitizing activity of KU-2285 was higher than that of etanidazole (p < 0.05), other fluorinated 2-nitroimidazoles showed less radiosensitizing activity than the comparable nonfluorinated compounds. The compound was eliminated from serum more rapidly with the increase in the number of CH2 group in the side chain of the compound in each series. CONCLUSION: Although the in vitro sensitizing activity of the fluorinated compounds was higher than that of the comparable nonfluorinated compounds, the in vivo radiosensitizing activity of all fluorinated compounds but KU-2285 was lower than that of comparable etanidazole group compounds, probably due to their lower molecular concentrations in tumor and rapid elimination.

Animals↗

Is low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity a measure of G2-phase cell radiosensitivity?

Low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity describes a phenomenon by which cells die from excessive sensitivity to small single doses of ionizing radiation below approximately 20-30 cGy. This review describes experimental data that strongly imply that low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity is exclusively associated with the survival response of cells in the G2 phase of the cycle. This G2-centric concept arose when the characteristic cell survival pattern that denotes low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity was not detected in the radiation survival response of cell populations enriched in G1 or S phase cells. In contrast, an extended or exaggerated low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity response was evident from populations selected to contain only G2 phase cells by flow cytometry cell sorting. The historical data that has defined the field of low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity will be considered with respect to the radiation sensitivity of, and cell cycle checkpoints specific to, G2 phase cells. A working model of the putative mechanism of low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity will be presented within this context. The foundation of the model is a rapidly occurring dose-dependent pre-mitotic cell-cycle checkpoint that is specific to cells irradiated in the G2 phase. This early G2 phase checkpoint has been demonstrated to exhibit a dose expression profile that is comparable to the cell-survival pattern that defines low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity and is therefore a likely key regulator of the phenomenon.

Animals↗

Radiosensitization and cell kinetics: clinical implications for S-phase-specific radiosensitizers.

Rapid repopulation of tumor cells during conventional radiation therapy has been recently recognized as a factor that might significantly impair tumor response in several different tumor sites. One clinical strategy to overcome rapid tumor proliferation is to use S-phase-specific radiosensitizers such as hydroxyurea and the halopyrimidines 5-iododeoxyuridine (IUDR), 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BUDR), 5-fluoro-2'-deoxy-beta-uridine (FUDR), and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Indeed, several recent clinical trials have shown the positive antiproliferative effects of these radiosensitizers in various human tumors. In spite of this resurgence of clinical interest, the basic mechanism(s) of radiosensitization is not clearly understood. Although the halopyrimidines have similar biochemical pathways involving two key regulatory enzymes, thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthase, it appears that DNA-incorporation is important for radiosensitization by BUDR and IUDR but not for FUDR or 5-FU. Recent laboratory data suggest that biochemical modulation of the key regulatory enzymes can result in selective tumor radiosensitization with halopyrimidines. Hydroxyurea, like 5-FU, sensitizes cells when present prior to and following irradiation; this interaction may be related to cell synchronization as well as altered DNA damage repair. Exploiting differences in cell proliferation and cellular metabolism of these S-phase-specific radiosensitizers in tumors and normal tissues will be a major focus of clinical research in human tumor radiosensitization over the next few years.

Cell Cycle↗

Normal cellular radiosensitivity in an adult Fanconi anaemia patient with marked clinical radiosensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Fanconi anaemia is a rare disease associated with cellular sensitivity to chemicals (e.g. mitomycin C and diepoxybutane); variable but mild cellular radiosensitivity has also been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 32-year-old patient with Fanconi anaemia and tonsillar carcinoma, treated by radiotherapy, was found to exhibit profound clinical radiosensitivity. Confluent, ulcerating oropharyngeal mucositis developed after a conventionally fractionated dose of 34Gy and healing was incomplete by 2 months after cessation of therapy. RESULTS: Cellular radiosensitivity assays and RPLD studies from this patient did not suggest any major detectable radiosensitivity. CONCLUSION: There is a discrepancy between the observed clinical radiosensitivity and the usual "predictive" radiosensitivity assays in this patient with Fanconi anaemia.

Adult↗

Electron-affinic radiosensitizers possessing NPSH-reactive side chains: cytotoxicity and radiosensitizing activity towards hypoxic EMT6 cells in vitro.

A new class of dual-function nitroazole derivatives that are composed of electron-affinic nitroazole rings and a thiol-reactive alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl side chain were synthesized to evaluate their physico-chemical properties, reactivity with glutathione (GSH), and cytotoxicity and radiosensitizing activity towards EMT6/KU cells in vitro. Among this class of nitroazole compounds, 2-nitroimidazole-derivative (1), 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole derivative (2), and 2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole derivative (3) with a common side-chain structure of trans CH2CH = CHCO2CH3 readily reacted with GSH in phosphate-buffer solution (pH 7.2, 310 K). These compounds showed higher cytotoxicities to both aerobic and hypoxic EMT6/KU cells than the corresponding alpha, beta-saturated counterparts (6-8) with a side-chain structure of CH2CH2CH2CO2CH2CH3. The hypoxic cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 with similar electron affinities to that of misonidazole (9) was potentiated by the combined effects of depletion of non-protein thiols (NPSH) by the alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl side chains and bioreduction of the nitroazole rings. The sensitizer enhancement ratios in vitro (SERvitro) of 1 (2.80 +/- 0.20) and 2 (2.63 +/- 0.27) at a dose of 1.0 mmol dm-3 are comparable with the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER = 2.90 +/- 0.10) and are significantly larger than those of their respective counterparts 6 (1.28 +/- 0.06) and 7 (1.22 +/- 0.09). A less electron-affinic compound, 3, also gave a large SERvitro = 1.80 +/- 0.18, whereas the counterpart 8 was not effective (1.10) in radiosensitizing hypoxic cells. Compounds 1-3 not only altered the slope, but also reduced the shoulder of the dose-survival curve. These 'dual-function' nitroazole radiosensitizers show much lower levels of in vitro radiosensitization, as measured by the C1-6, than the previously reported 'anomalous' radiosensitizers such as 5-substituted 4-nitroimidazole radiosensitizers.

Azoles↗

Chromosomal radiosensitivity in two cell lineages derived from clinically radiosensitive cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Despite its prominent contribution to cancer cure and palliation, around 1% to 5% of cancer patients suffer serious side effects from radiotherapy. A cardinal goal in the fields of radiobiology and oncology is to predict normal tissue radiosensitivity of a cancer patient before radiotherapy. Higher tumor control rates are likely if radiotherapy individualization could be achieved by applying predictive approaches. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Here, we make use of the cytokinesis block micronucleus assay to assess radiosensitivity in cell lines derived from two different cell lineages obtained from clinically radiosensitive patients. We determined the micronucleus frequency after graded doses of ionizing radiation to primary fibroblasts and lymphoblast cell lines derived from 36 highly radiosensitive cancer patients. RESULTS: Many cell lines, following exposure to ionizing radiation, from patients with severe clinical reactions to radiotherapy showed statistically significantly higher frequencies of micronuclei than those from patients who had normal reactions to radiotherapy. One individual revealed significantly higher micronucleus frequencies in both cell lineages. Interestingly, lymphoblast cell lines from one patient showed micronucleus frequencies similar to ataxia telangiectasia mutated-deficient cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the micronucleus assay may have use for identifying predisposition to clinical radiosensitivity, at least in a subset of patients as a component of a pretreatment radiosensitivity assay for use in the clinic.

Cell Lineage↗

Linear-quadratic analysis of radiosensitization by halogenated pyrimidines. II. Radiosensitization of human colon cancer cells by bromodeoxyuridine.

As a continuation of the studies in Part I (Miller, Fowler, and Kinsella, Radiat. Res. 131, 000-000, 1992), which examined the radiosensitizing effects of iododeoxyuridine (IdU), similar experiments with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) were conducted concurrently to characterize its effects on the shape of the radiation survival curves of cells of two human colon cancer cell lines, HT 29 and HCT 116. The efficiency of radiosensitization by BrdU, expressed as a function of percentage thymidine replacement, was lower when compared to IdU in both cell lines. However, the major radiosensitizing effect of BrdU was manifest as an increase in the initial slope (alpha), just as observed for IdU. However, with BrdU, in contrast to IdU, an increase in curvature (repairable damage) was also evident. Cells of the more radiosensitive line, HCT 116, showed less sensitization by either BrdU or IdU than cells of the more radioresistant line, HT 29. These results were consistent with the proposed mechanism of radiosensitization being an increase in the single-hit character of low-LET radiation. It follows that the radiosensitizing effects of both analogs were largest in the low-dose region of the survival curve.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗

Platinum complexes with one radiosensitizing ligand [PtCl2(NH3) (sensitizer)]: radiosensitization and toxicity studies in vitro.

Complexes of general formula [PtCl2(NH3)L] with one radiosensitizing ligand per platinum are compared with ligand L alone, complexes with two radiosensitizers per platinum [PtCl2L2], and their analogs with NH3 ligands, with respect to radiosensitizing properties and toxicity in CHO cells. Radiosensitizing ligands, L, were misonidazole, metronidazole, 4(5)-nitroimidazole, and 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole, and the ammine analogs were cis- and trans-DDP [diamminedichloroplatinum(II)] and the monoammine, K[PtCl3(NH3)]. Results are related to a previous study on plasmid DNA binding by these series. The toxicity of the mono series [PtCl2(NH3)L], attributable to DNA binding, is much higher than the corresponding bis complexes, [PtCl2L2]. For L = misonidazole, toxicity is similar to the monoammine, but higher in hypoxic than in aerobic cells. trans-[PtCl2(NH3)-(misonidazole)] is more toxic than the cis isomer. Except for L = 4(5)-nitroimidazole, the complexes [PtCl2(NH3)L] are more toxic than L in air and hypoxia. Hypoxic radiosensitization by the mono complexes is comparable to the monoammine and is not better than free sensitizers, again except for L = 4(5)-nitroimidazole. Significantly lower sensitization is observed in oxic cells. The bis complexes [PtCl2L2], which do not bind to DNA as well as the mono complexes, are less effective radiosensitizers and less toxic than the [PtCl2(NH3)L] series.

Animals↗

Cell cycle arrests and radiosensitivity of human tumor cell lines: dependence on wild-type p53 for radiosensitivity.

Loss of p53 function has been shown to cause increased resistance to ionizing radiation in normal murine cells; however, the role of p53 in radioresistance of human tumor cells is less clear. Since wild-type p53 function is required for radiation-induced G1 arrest, we measured G1 arrest in 12 human tumor cell lines that have a wide range of radiosensitivities (surviving fraction at 2 Gy, 0.11-0.8). We observed a significant correlation between the level of ionizing radiation-induced G1 arrest and radiosensitivity. Cell lines having G1 arrest are more radiosensitive. There is no correlation between maximal G2 arrest and radiosensitivity. Expression of a dominant-negative mutant of p53 (codon 143, Val to Ala) in transfectants of the radiosensitive human ovarian cell line A2780 abrogates the radiation-induced G1 arrest. Such mutant p53 transfectants are more resistant to ionizing radiation than the parental line and vector-alone transfectants, as measured by clonogenic assays. These results support the concept that wild-type p53 function is required for sensitivity of tumor cells to DNA-damaging agents, such as ionizing radiation, and that the loss of p53 function in certain human tumor cells can lead to resistance to ionizing radiation.

G1 Phase↗

Ocular penetration, toxicity, and radiosensitization effects of two hypoxic cell radiosensitizers on retinoblastoma.

Two new radiosensitizing drugs, SR-2508 and SR-2555, were studied for their in vivo toxicity and absorption properties. For both drugs, 100 mg dissolved in 0.5 mL of normal saline resulted in the maximum acceptable level of toxicity when injected subconjunctivally in rabbit eyes as determined by ocular and histopathologic changes. SR-2508 showed higher ocular and systemic absorption than SR-2555. The radiosensitizing ability of these drugs was studied using Chinese hamster ovary cells and the retinoblastoma cell line, V79c6. Results of the in vitro radiation experiments indicate that both drugs are comparable with misonidazole in their radiosensitizing ability, with SR-2508 being slightly more effective than SR-2555. Because of their relative high ocular absorption and low toxicity in comparison with misonidazole, these two drugs, particularly SR-2508, may be of clinical value and could be considered for adjunctive use as radiosensitizers of hypoxic tumors such as retinoblastoma.

Absorption↗

Relationships between DNA damage and the survival of radiosensitive mutant Chinese hamster cell lines exposed to gamma-radiation. Part 1: Intrinsic radiosensitivity.

In this study we used the neutral elution technique (at pH 9.6) to compare the efficiency of DNA double-strand break (dsb) induction and cell killing in two radiosensitive Chinese hamster ovary cell lines, EM9 and NM2, and their parent cell line, AA8, after exposure to low doses (2.5-12 Gy) of 137Cs gamma-radiation. The survival curves indicated that at all radiation doses examined EM9 cells were the most radiosensitive and AA8 cells were the least radiosensitive. We found significant differences among the three cell lines in the neutral elution assay. While NM2 cells showed the same immediate postirradiation dose response for DNA damage as the parent cell line, EM9 cells showed a two-fold greater elution rate than AA8 cells per unit dose. Either the dsb induction efficiency was greater in EM9 than in AA8 cells, or the same frequency of dsb in EM9 and AA8 cells gave rise to a different DNA elution rate, perhaps because of differences in their chromatin structure. We also used a mitotic selection technique to examine the duration of the gamma-ray-induced mitotic delay in the three cell lines. Mitotic delay was less severe in NM2 cells than in AA8 cells, but was significantly longer in EM9 cells than in AA8 cells. Thus the measurements obtained using both neutral elution and mitotic selection suggest that the underlying molecular bases of the radiosensitivity of EM9 and NM2 cells are very different.

Animals↗