Contribution of protein kinase C to p53-dependent WAF1 induction pathway after heat treatment in human glioblastoma cell lines

The impact of TP53 status of tumor cells including the type and the concentration of administered 10B delivery agents on compound biological effectiveness in boron neutron capture therapy

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53) or neo vector (SAS/neo) were inoculated subcutaneously into left hind legs of nude mice. After the subcutaneous administration of a 10B-carrier, boronophenylalanine-10B (BPA) or sodium mercaptododecaborate-10B (BSH), at two separate concentrations, the 10B concentrations in tumors were measured using γ-ray spectrometry. The tumor-bearing mice received 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all intratumor proliferating (P) tumor cells, then were administered with BPA or BSH. Subsequently, the tumors were irradiated with reactor neutron beams during the time of which 10B concentrations were kept at levels similar to each other. Following irradiation, cells from some tumors were isolated and incubated with a cytokinesis blocker. The responses of BrdU-unlabeled quiescent (Q) and total (= P + Q) tumor cells were assessed based on the frequencies of micronucleation using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU. In both SAS/neo and SAS/mp53 tumors, the compound biological effectiveness (CBE) values were higher in Q cells and in the use of BPA than total cells and BSH, respectively. The higher the administered concentrations were, the smaller the CBE values became, with a clearer tendency in SAS/neo tumors and the use of BPA than in SAS/mp53 tumors and BSH, respectively. The values for BPA that delivers into solid tumors more dependently on uptake capacity of tumor cells than BSH became more alterable. Tumor micro-environmental heterogeneity might partially influence on the CBE value. The CBE value can be regarded as one of the indices showing the level of intratumor heterogeneity.

Effects of p53 Status of Tumor Cells and Combined Treatment With Mild Hyperthermia, Wortmannin or Caffeine on Recovery From Radiation-Induced Damage

Background

The aim of the study was to examine the dependency of p53 status and the usefulness of mild hyperthermia (MHT) as an inhibitor of recovery from radiation-induced damage, referring to the response of quiescent (Q) tumor cell population.

Methods

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53) or with neo vector (SAS/neo) were injected subcutaneously into left hind legs of nude mice. Tumor-bearing mice received 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all intratumor proliferating (P) cells. They received high dose-rate γ-ray irradiation (HDR) immediately followed by localized MHT (40 °C for 2 h), or caffeine or wortmannin administration, or low dose-rate γ-ray irradiation simultaneously with localized MHT or caffeine or wortmannin administration. Nine hours after the start of irradiation, the tumor cells were isolated and incubated with a cytokinesis blocker, and the micronucleus (MN) frequency in cells without BrdU labeling (= Q cells) was determined using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU.

Results

SAS/neo tumor cells, especially intratumor Q cell populations, showed a marked reduction in sensitivity due to the recovery from radiation-induced damage, compared with the total or Q tumor cells within SAS/mp53 tumors that showed little recovery capacity. The recovery from radiation-induced damage was thought to be a p53-dependent event. In both total and Q tumor cells within SAS/neo tumors, especially the latter, MHT efficiently suppressed the reduction in sensitivity caused by leaving an interval between HDR irradiation and the assay and decreasing the irradiation dose-rate, as well as the combination with wortmannin administration.

Conclusions

From the viewpoint of solid tumor control as a whole, including intratumor Q-cell control, non-toxic MHT is useful for suppressing the recovery from radiation-induced damage, as well as wortmannin treatment combined with γ-ray irradiation.

The Effect of p53 Status on Radio-Sensitivity of Quiescent Tumor Cell Population Irradiated With γ-Rays at Various Dose Rates

Background

The aim of the study was to clarify the effect of p53 status of tumor cells on radio-sensitivity of solid tumors following γ-ray irradiation at various dose rates, referring to the response of intratumor quiescent (Q) cells.

Methods

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53) or with neo vector (SAS/neo) were injected subcutaneously into hind legs of nude mice. Tumor bearing mice received 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all intratumor proliferating (P) cells. They received γ-rays at a high, middle or low dose rate. Immediately or 9 h after the high dose-rate irradiation (HDR, 2.5 Gy/min), or immediately after the middle (MDR, 0.039 Gy/min) or low (LDR, 0.00098 Gy/min) dose-rate irradiation, the tumor cells were isolated and incubated with a cytokinesis blocker, and the micronucleus (MN) frequency in cells without BrdU labeling (Q cells) was determined using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU.

Results

Following γ-ray irradiation, SAS/neo tumor cells, especially intratumor Q cells, showed a marked reduction in sensitivity due to the recovery from radiation-induced damage, compared with the total or Q cells within SAS/mp53 tumors that showed little repair capacity. The recovery capacities following γ-ray irradiation were greater in Q than total cell population and increased in the following order of 9 h after HDR < MDR < LDR. Thus, the difference in radio-sensitivity between the total (P + Q) and Q cells after γ-ray irradiation increased in the same order.

Conclusion

To secure controlling solid tumors as a whole, difference in sensitivity between total and Q tumor cells especially in solid tumors irrespective of p53 status has to be suppressed as irradiation dose rate decreases, for instance, through employing combined method for enhancing the response of Q tumor cells.

The Effect of p53 Status of Tumor Cells on Radiosensitivity of Irradiated Tumors With Carbon-Ion Beams Compared With γ-Rays or Reactor Neutron Beams

Background

The aim of the study was to clarify the effect of p53 status of tumor cells on radiosensitivity of solid tumors following accelerated carbon-ion beam irradiation compared with γ-rays or reactor neutron beams, referring to the response of intratumor quiescent (Q) cells.

Methods

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53) or with neo vector (SAS/neo) were injected subcutaneously into hind legs of nude mice. Tumor-bearing mice received 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all intratumor proliferating (P) cells. They received γ-rays or accelerated carbon-ion beams at a high or reduced dose-rate. Other tumor-bearing mice received reactor thermal or epithermal neutrons at a reduced dose-rate. Immediately or 9 hours after the high dose-rate irradiation (HDRI), or immediately after the reduced dose-rate irradiation (RDRI), the tumor cells were isolated and incubated with a cytokinesis blocker, and the micronucleus (MN) frequency in cells without BrdU labeling (Q cells) was determined using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU.

Results

The difference in radiosensitivity between the total (P + Q) and Q cells after γ-ray irradiation was markedly reduced with reactor neutron beams or carbon-ion beams, especially with a higher linear energy transfer (LET) value. Following γ-ray irradiation, SAS/neo tumor cells, especially intratumor Q cells, showed a marked reduction in sensitivity due to the recovery from radiation-induced damage, compared with the total or Q cells within SAS/mp53 tumors that showed little repair capacity. In both total and Q cells within both SAS/neo and SAS/mp53 tumors, carbon-ion beam irradiation, especially with a higher LET, showed little recovery capacity through leaving an interval between HDRI and the assay or decreasing the dose-rate. The recovery from radiation-induced damage after γ-ray irradiation was a p53-dependent event, but little recovery was found after carbon-ion beam irradiation. With RDRI, the radiosensitivity to reactor thermal and epithermal neutron beams was slightly higher than that to carbon-ion beams.

Conclusion

For tumor control, including intratumor Q-cell control, accelerated carbon-ion beams, especially with a higher LET, and reactor thermal and epithermal neutron beams were very useful for suppressing the recovery from radiation-induced damage irrespective of p53 status of tumor cells.

Radiosensitivity and Capacity to Recover from Radiation-Induced Damage in Pimonidazole-Unlabeled Intratumor Quiescent Cells Depend on p53 Status

Background

Using our method for selectively detecting the response of intratumor quiescent (Q) cells to irradiation, the Q cells was shown to have a much larger hypoxic fraction (HF) than total (= proliferating (P) + Q) tumor cell population irrespective of the p53 status of tumor cells. However, the size of the HF was clearly less than 100%, meaning the Q cell population was never fully hypoxic. Thus, the dependency of the radio-sensitivity and recovery capacity from radiation-induced damage on p53 status was investigated in pimonidazole-unlabeled oxygenated Q tumor cells.

Methods

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53), or with neo vector as a control (SAS/neo), were inoculated subcutaneously into left hind legs of Balb/cA nude mice. The tumor-bearing mice received 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all intratumor P cells. Tumors were irradiated with γ-rays at a high dose-rate or a reduced dose-rate at 1 h after the administration of pimonidazole. The responses of Q and total cell populations were evaluated with the frequencies of micronucleation and apoptosis using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU. The response of pimonidazole unlabeled tumor cell fractions was assessed with apoptosis frequency using immunofluorescence staining for pimonidazole.

Results

The pimonidazole-unlabeled tumor cell fraction showed significantly enhanced radio-sensitivity compared with the whole tumor cell fraction more remarkably in Q cells and p53-mutated tumors than total cells and p53-wild type tumors, respectively. However, a significantly greater decrease in radio-sensitivity in the pimonidazole-unlabeled than the whole cell fraction, evaluated using a delayed assay or a decrease in radiation dose rate, was more clearly observed in Q cells and p53-wild type tumors than total cells and p53-mutated type tumors, respectively. Concerning the whole tumor cell fraction, the Q cells showed significantly greater radio-resistance and recovery capacity from radiation-induced damage than the total cells both in p53-wild and p53-mutated type tumors.

Conclusions

The pimonidazole-unlabeled sub-fraction of the Q tumor cells, probably oxygenated, may be a critical target in the control of solid tumors, although its radio-sensitivity and recovery capacity from radiation-induced damage depend on p53 status of the tumor cell.

Usefulness of hexamethylenetetramine as an adjuvant to radiation and cisplatin in the treatment of solid tumors: its independency of p53 status

The usefulness of hexamethylenetetramine as an adjuvant to radiation and cisplatin in the treatment of solid tumors and its dependency on the p53 status of tumor cells were examined. Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53), or with neo vector as a control (SAS/neo), were inoculated subcutaneously into both the hind legs of Balb/cA nude mice. The tumor-bearing mice received 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all proliferating (P) cells in the tumors. Then, they received hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA), intraperitoneally or continuously, combined with or without gamma-ray irradiation or cisplatin treatment. Immediately after treatment following HMTA, the response of quiescent (Q) cells was assessed in terms of the micronucleus frequency using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU. The response of the total (= P + Q) tumor cells was determined from the BrdU non-treated tumors. A higher toxicity of HMTA to Q cells than total cells, especially in SAS/neo, was made less clear by continuous administration. There was no apparent difference in the radio- and cisplatin-sensitivity enhancing effects by HMTA combination between SAS/neo and SAS/mp53 tumors, with a slightly greater effect in SAS/mp53. In both SAS/neo and SAS/mp53 tumors, continuous HMTA administration produced higher radio- and cisplatin-sensitivity enhancing effects than intraperitoneal single administration. Therefore, the use of HMTA as an adjuvant to radiation or cisplatin might be promising in curing solid tumors with large fraction of hypoxic cells and also with frequent loss-of-function in p53.

PKC alpha protein but not kinase activity is critical for glioma cell proliferation and survival

Protein kinase C alpha (PKCalpha) has been implicated in tumor development with high levels of PKCalpha expression being associated with various malignancies including glioblastomas and tumors of the breast and prostate. To account for its upregulation in these cancers, studies have suggested that PKCalpha plays a role in promoting cell survival. Here we show by siRNA depletion in U87MG glioma cells that a critical threshold level of PKCalpha protein expression is essential for their growth in the presence of serum and for their survival following serum deprivation. Derivation of PKCalpha wt and KO mouse embryo fibroblast cell lines confirms a role for PKCalpha in protecting cells from apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Notably, PKCalpha was found to mediate chemo-protection in these fibroblastic cell lines. In U87MG cells PKCalpha does not confer chemoprotection though this likely reflects growth arrest associated with its depletion. To determine the requirements for catalytic function, comparison was made between distinct classes of PKC inhibitors. In contrast to loss of PKCalpha protein, inhibition of PKC kinase activity in glioma cell lines does not significantly inhibit growth or survival. Conversely, inhibition with calphostin C, which targets the regulatory domain of PKC, potently inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis. Evidence is presented that it is the fully phosphorylated, folded form of PKCalpha that confers this activity-independent behaviour. These results indicate an essential pro-proliferative and pro-survival role for PKCalpha in glioma but question the use of ATP competitive inhibitors as therapeutics, either alone, or in combination with chemotoxic agents.

Cellular mechanisms of neuronal damage from hyperthermia

Hyperthermia can cause brain damage and also exacerbate the brain damage produced by stroke and amphetamines. The developing brain is especially sensitive to hyperthermia. The severity of, and mechanisms underlying, hyperthermia-induced neuronal death depend on both temperature and duration of exposure. Severe hyperthermia can produce necrotic neuronal death. For a window of less severe heat stresses, cultured neurons exhibit a delayed death with apoptotic characteristics including cytochrome c release and caspase activation. Little is known about mechanisms of hyperthermia-induced damage upstream of these late apoptotic effects. This chapter considers several possible upstream mechanisms, drawing on both in vivo and in vitro studies of the nervous system and other tissues. Hyperthermia-induced damage in some non-neuronal cells includes endoplasmic reticular stress due to denaturing of nascent polypeptide chains, as well as nuclear and cytoskeletal damage. Evidence is presented that hyperthermia produces mitochondrial damage, including depolarization, in cultured mammalian neurons.

p21(Waf1/Cip1) and p53 are downstream effectors of protein kinase C delta in tumor suppression and differentiation in human colon cancer cells

We have previously demonstrated that the delta isoform of protein kinase C (PKCdelta) is importantly involved in cell growth inhibition and tumor suppression in colon cancer cells. To investigate further the activity and mechanism of action of PKCdelta, we have retrovirally transduced a PKCdelta cDNA in HCT116 human colon cancer cells. PKCdelta-overexpressing cells (HCT116/PKCdelta) were growth-inhibited, showed marked morphologic changes and underwent multinucleation and phenotypic changes characteristic of mitotic catastrophe. Compared to controls, HCT116/PKCdelta cells showed a highly attenuated tumorigenic profile and poor anchorage-independent growth. In addition, transfected cells established junction-coordinated intercellular communications, expressed cell surface microvilli and overexpressed the colon differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase. HCT116/PKCdelta cells also produced the 89 kDa, carboxy-terminal catalytic domain of PARP. In HCT116/PKCdelta cells, p21(Waf1/Cip1) and p53 were transiently upregulated for 48 hr after PKCdelta transduction. In a p21 null subline of HCT116 cells (HCT116/p21null), overexpression of PKCdelta did not affect tumorigenicity or differentiation, indicating that p21 is essential for the antitumorigenic activity of PKCdelta. Similarly, overexpression of PKCdelta caused no significant phenotypic changes in HCT116/E6 cells, an HCT116 subline in which the p53 protein is downregulated by the human papillomavirus E6 gene product. We conclude that overexpression of PKCdelta in human colon cancer cells induces multiple antineoplastic effects that depend on the activities of p21(Waf1/Cip1) and p53.

Effects of mild temperature hyperthermia and p53 status on the size of hypoxic fractions in solid tumors, with reference to the effect in intratumor quiescent cell populations

PURPOSE

To determine the effects of mild temperature hyperthermia (MTH) and p53 status of tumor cells on the size of hypoxic fractions (HFs) in solid tumors, with reference to the effect on intratumor quiescent (Q) cell populations.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Human head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53) or with neo vector as a control (SAS/neo) were inoculated subcutaneously into left hind legs of Balb/cA nude mice. Mice bearing the tumors received 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all proliferating (P) cells in the tumors. The mice then received nicotinamide injection or carbogen gas (95% O(2), 5% CO(2)) inhalation combined with or without MTH. Nicotinamide prevents intermittent blood flow that could induce perfusion-limited acute hypoxia. Chronically hypoxic cells in regions beyond the limitation of oxygen diffusion in tumors are oxygenated by increasing the oxygen transport capacity of circulating blood with carbogen gas inhalation. After each treatment, the mice received a series of test doses of gamma-rays while alive or after tumor clamping to obtain HFs in the tumors. Immediately after irradiation, the tumors were excised, minced, and trypsinized. The tumor cell suspensions thus obtained were incubated with a cytokinesis blocker (cytochalasin-B) to inhibit cytoplasmic division while allowing nuclear division. Tumor cells not labeled with BrdU were detected with immunofluorescence staining of BrdU for P cells, and the micronucleus frequency in cells without BrdU labeling [ = Q cells] was determined. The micronucleus frequency in total (P + Q) tumor cells was determined from the tumors that were not pretreated with BrdU.

RESULTS

SAS/mp53 tumors showed larger values for the size of not only the HF but also the diffusion-limited chronically HF than SAS/neo tumors. Q cell populations included a larger HF, particularly the chronically HF, than total cell populations in both tumors, especially in SAS/neo tumors. MTH could efficiently oxygenate the chronically HF, irrespective of p53 status.

CONCLUSION

MTH is a useful combined treatment with a radioenhancement effect on intratumor Q cells, irrespective of the p53 status of tumor cells. The p53 status has the potential to affect microenvironmental conditions within solid tumors.

Heat-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in transplanted human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas with different status of p53

To examine p53-dependency in hyperthermic cancer therapy, heat-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in transplanted human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumours were analysed with different status of p53 into nude mice. The tumour tissue from HNSCC cell line (SAS) transfected with mutant p53 gene (SAS/mp53) or control vector containing neo gene (SAS/neo) was transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of the thigh of nude mice using a trocar. Hyperthermia was performed at 42 degrees C when the mean diameter of tumour was 5-6mm. The diameter of tumours was measured using vernier calipers and tumour weight (TW) and the relative tumour weight (RW) was calculated. Tumour regrowth delay was evaluated when the RW reached 5-fold against the control group. The accumulation of p53 and Bax proteins was examined by an immunohistochemical technique. Apoptotic cells in the sections were detected by staining of DNA ends using an immunohistochemical technique. SAS/mp53 tumours showed more heat-resistance than SAS/neo tumours. The p53-positively staining cells were observed in untreated SAS/mp53 tumours, but not in untreated SAS/neo tumours. After heat treatment, the accumulation of p53 and Bax proteins was observed in SAS/neo tumours, but little in SAS/mp53 tumours. The incidence of apoptotic cells induced by heat treatment was very low in SAS/mp53 tumours compared with SAS/neo tumours. In conclusion, the heat-induced growth inhibition of a transplanted HNSCC may be correlated with the induction of p53-dependent Bax-mediated apoptosis. Thus, p53 status appears to be one of the useful parameters for the predictive assays in hyperthermic cancer therapy.

Apoptosis-related gene expression after hyperthermia in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells harboring wild-type or mutated-type p53

Hyperthermia is useful for the treatment of human head and neck cancer, as it is relatively easy to perform thermoregulation when compared with deep organs. In this study, we focused attention on the p53 as a predictive indicator of hyperthermic cancer therapy. We used two kinds of cell lines of a human squamous cell carcinoma (SAS) with identical backgrounds of function except for the p53 protein. We assayed the heat sensitivity, frequency of apoptosis, and apoptosis-related gene expression after heat treatment using DNA array. The SAS/neo (wild-type p53; wtp53) cells were sensitive to heat, and the induction of Caspase-3 activation and apoptosis in the wtp53 cells was clearly high compared with the SAS/mp53 (mutated p53; mp53) cells. The gene expression of apoptosis suppressive-genes such as IL-12 p35 decreased in the wtp53 cells, and IL-12 R beta1 increased in the mp53 cells, though apoptosis-promotive genes of Caspase-9, CD30 and CD40 were induced p53-independently by hyperthermia. It is suggested that heat-induced apoptosis was suppressed by IL-12-related genes in the mp53 cells. These findings strongly imply that p53 status is a useful candidate for a predictive indicator of the effectiveness in hyperthermic therapy.

Usefulness of combined treatment with mild temperature hyperthermia and/or tirapazamine in the treatment of solid tumors: its independence of p53 status

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53) or with neo vector as a control (SAS/neo) were inoculated subcutaneously into both hind legs of Balb/cA nude mice. Mice bearing the tumors received 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all proliferating (P) cells in the tumors. The mice then received tirapazamine (TPZ) with or without mild temperature hyperthermia (40 degrees C, 60 min) (MTH), gamma-ray irradiation with or without MTH and/or TPZ, cisplatin (CDDP) with or without MTH and/or TPZ, or paclitaxel (TXL) with or without MTH and/or TPZ. After each treatment, the tumors were excised, minced and trypsinized. The tumor cell suspensions thus obtained were incubated with a cytokinesis blocker (cytochalasin-B), and the micronucleus (MN) frequency in cells without BrdU labeling (i.e., quiescent (Q) cells) was determined by using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU. Meanwhile, 6 h after gamma-ray irradiation or 24 h after other cytotoxic treatments, tumor cell suspensions obtained in the same manner were used for determining the frequency of apoptosis in Q cells. The MN frequency and apoptosis frequency in total (P+Q) tumor cells were determined from the tumors that were not pretreated with BrdU. On the whole, gamma-ray irradiation and CDDP injection induced a higher frequency of apoptosis and lower frequency of MN in SAS/neo cells than SAS/mp53 cells. There were no apparent differences in the induced frequency of apoptosis and MN between SAS/neo and SAS/mp53 cells after TPZ or TXL treatment. MTH sensitized cells to TPZ-inducing cytotoxicity more markedly in SAS/mp53 and Q cells than in SAS/neo cells and total cells, respectively. In gamma-ray irradiation and CDDP treatment, the enhancement in combination with MTH and/or TPZ was more remarkable in SAS/mp53 cells and Q cells than in SAS/neo and total tumor cells, respectively. Also in the case of TXL treatment, the combination with MTH and/or TPZ induced a slightly greater enhancement effect in SAS/mp53 cells and Q cells. In view of the difficulty in controlling mutated p53 status tumors and intratumor Q cells, combination treatment with MTH and/or TPZ as a cooperative modality in cancer therapy is considered to have potential for controlling solid tumors as a whole.

Impact of the p53 status of the tumor cells on the effect of reactor neutron beam irradiation, with emphasis on the response of intratumor quiescent cells

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant p53 (SAS/mp53) or with neo vector as a control (SAS/neo) were inoculated subcutaneously into both the hind legs of Balb/cA nude mice. Tumor-bearing mice received 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all proliferating (P) cells in the tumors. After administration of sodium borocaptate-10B (BSH) or p-boronophenylalanine-10B (BPA), the tumors were irradiated with neutron beams. The tumors not treated with 10B-compound were irradiated with neutron beams or gamma-rays. The tumors were then excised, minced and trypsinized. The tumor cell suspensions thus obtained were incubated with a cytokinesis blocker, and the micronucleus (MN) frequency in cells without BrdU labeling (=quiescent (Q) cells) was determined using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU. Meanwhile, 6 h after irradiation, tumor cell suspensions obtained in the same manner were used for determining the frequency of apoptosis in Q cells. The MN and apoptosis frequencies in total (P+Q) tumor cells were determined from the tumors that were not pretreated with BrdU. Without 10B-carriers, in both tumors, the relative biological effectiveness of neutrons was greater in Q cells than in total cells, and larger for low than high cadmium ratio neutrons. With 10B-carriers, the sensitivity was increased for each cell population, especially for total cells. BPA increased both frequencies for total cells more than BSH. Nevertheless, the sensitivity of Q cells treated with BPA was lower than that of BSH-treated Q cells. These sensitization patterns in combination with 10B-carriers were clearer in SAS/neo than in SAS/mp53 tumors. The p53 status of the tumor cells had the potential to affect the response to reactor neutron beam irradiation following 10B-carrier administration.

Glycerol restores heat-induced p53-dependent apoptosis of human glioblastoma cells bearing mutant p53

BACKGROUND

We have previously reported that glycerol acts as a chemical chaperone to restore the expression of WAF1 in some human cancer cell lines bearing mutant p53. Since the expression of WAF1 is up-regulated by activated wildtype p53, glycerol appears to restore wtp53 function. The aim of the present study is to examine the restoration of heat-induced p53-dependent apoptosis by glycerol in human glioblastoma cells (A-172) transfected with a vector carrying a mutant p53 gene (A-172/mp53 cells) or neo control vector (A-172/neo cells).

RESULTS

A-172/mp53 cells showed heat resistance compared with A-172/neo cells but A-172/mp53 cells in turn became heat sensitive when pre-treated with glycerol before heat treatment. The accumulation of Bax in the A-172/mp53 cells was induced by heating with glycerol pre-treatment, but not without it, whereas the accumulation in the A-172/neo cells was induced in both cases. Furthermore, mp53 extracted from heated cells came to bind to the sequence specific region after heating combined with glycerol pre-treatment. The phosphorylation of mp53 at serine15 was suppressed by an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) family.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that glycerol is effective in inducing conformational change of phosphorylated p53 and restoring mp53 to wtp53 function, leading to enhanced heat sensitivity through the induction of apoptosis. This novel tool for enhancement of heat sensitivity in cancer cells bearing mp53 may be applicable for p53-targeted hyperthermia, because mutation or inactivation of p53 is observed in approximately 50% of human cancers.

Radiobiological characteristics of solid tumours depending on the p53 status of the tumour cells, with emphasis on the response of intratumour quiescent cells

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mTP53) or with a neo vector as a control (SAS/neo) were inoculated subcutaneously (s.c.) into both hind legs of Balb/cA nude mice. Mice bearing tumours received 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously to label all proliferating (P) cells in the tumours. The mice then received gamma-ray irradiation. Another group of mice received a series of test doses of gamma-rays while alive or after tumour clamping to obtain hypoxic fractions (HFs) in the tumours. Right after irradiation, the tumour cells were isolated and incubated with a cytokinesis blocker. The micronucleus (MN) frequency in the cells without BrdU labelling (=quiescent (Q) cells) was determined using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU. Meanwhile, 6 h after irradiation, tumour cell suspensions obtained in the same manner were used for determining the frequency of apoptosis in the Q cells. The MN frequency and apoptosis frequency in total (P+Q) tumour cells were determined from the tumours that were not pretreated with BrdU. In total cell populations, SAS/mTP53 cells were more radioresistant than SAS/neo cells in clonogenic survival. Q tumour cells exhibited a significantly lower apoptosis and MN frequency, probably due to their much larger HF, than total cells. In both total and Q cell fractions, SAS/mTP53 cells were less susceptible to apoptosis and more susceptible to micronucleation than SAS/neo cells. Obviously, TP53 status had the potential to influence the radiosensitivity of not only the total cells, but also the Q cells. However, irrespective of the TP53 status, significant differences in radiosensitivity between total and Q tumour cells were consistently observed. From the viewpoint of tumour control as a whole, including intratumour Q tumour cell control, a treatment modality for enhancing the Q cell response has to be considered.

Pre-irradiation at a low dose-rate blunted p53 response

We investigated whether chronic irradiation at a low dose-rate interferes with the p53-centered signal transduction pathway induced by radiation in human cultured cells and C57BL/6N mice. In in vitro experiments, we found that a challenge with X-ray irradiation immediately after chronic irradiation resulted in lower levels of p53 than those observed after the challenge alone in glioblastoma cells (A-172). In addition, the levels of p53-centered apoptosis and its related proteins after the challenge were strongly correlated with the above-mentioned phenomena in squamous cell carcinoma cells (SAS/neo). In in vivo experiments, the accumulation of p53 and Bax, and the induction of apoptosis were observed dose-dependently in mouse spleen at 12 h after a challenge with X-rays (3.0 Gy). However, we found significant suppression of p53 and Bax accumulation and the induction of apoptosis 12 h after challenge irradiation at 3.0 Gy with a high dose-rate following chronic pre-irradiation (1.5 Gy, 0.001 Gy/min). These findings suggest that chronic pre-irradiation suppressed the p53 function through radiation-induced signaling and/or p53 stability.

A role for protein kinase C delta in the differential sensitivity of MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cells to phorbol ester-induced growth arrest and p21(WAFI/CIP1) induction

The goal of this study was to investigate the differential sensitivity of estrogen receptor (ER) positive MCF-7 and ER negative MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-dependent growth arrest. MCF-7 cells were growth arrested by 80% while MDA-MB 231 cells were arrested by 20% in response to seven days of treatment with 10 nM PMA. Coincident with the increased sensitivity of MCF-7 cells to be growth arrested by the protein kinase C (PKC) activator PMA, PMA induced 9-fold higher levels of the cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21(WAF1/GIP1) in MCF-7 compared to MDA-MB 231 cells. A comparison of the PKC isoforms expressed in MCF-7 versus MDA-MB 231 cells showed that only the PMA-sensitive PKC delta and eta isoforms were expressed at markedly (> or =10-fold) elevated levels in MCF7 versus MDA-MB 231 cells. These results suggested that the differential sensitivity to growth arrest and induction of p2l(WAFl/CIPl) could reflect, at least in part, increased expression of PMA-dependent PKC isoforms delta and/or eta. Direct evidence to support this hypothesis was provided by the ability of transient transfections into MCF-7 cells of constitutively active PKC delta but not of PKC's eta or alpha or epsilon to enhance p21(WAFl/CIP1) promoter activity. These results suggest that PKC delta plays a fundamental role in the regulation of growth in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells.

Glycerol restores p53-dependent radiosensitivity of human head and neck cancer cells bearing mutant p53

Mutation or inactivation of p53 is known to be present in approximately 50% of human cancers. We propose here a novel strategy for overcoming this problem in mutant p53-targeting cancer therapies. We examined the restoration of radiation-induced p53-dependent apoptosis by a chemical chaperone (glycerol) in human head and neck cancer cells (SAS cells, showing wild-type p53 phenotype). SAS cells transfected with mutant p53 (SAS/m p53) showed radioresistance compared with SAS cells (SAS/ neo) transfected with neo vector as a control, but became radiosensitive when pre-treated with glycerol before X-ray irradiation. Apoptosis in the SAS/m p53 cells was induced by X-rays with glycerol pre-treatment, but not without glycerol pre-treatment, whereas apoptosis in the SAS/ neo cells was induced in both cases. Gel mobility-shift assays showed that after X-ray irradiation combined with glycerol pre-treatment, mp53 was able to bind to the sequence-specific region upstream of the bax gene regulating apoptosis. These results suggest that glycerol is effective in inducing a conformational change of p53 and restoring normal function to mp53, leading to enhanced radiosensitivity through the induction of apoptosis. This novel tool for enhancement of radiosensitivity in cancer cells bearing mp53 may be useful for p53-targeted radiotherapy.

Transfection with mutant p53 gene inhibits heat-induced apoptosis in a head and neck cell line of human squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

To confirm that human cancer cells show p53-dependent heat sensitivity through an apoptosis-related mechanism, we examined the heat sensitivity and Bax-mediated apoptosis after heating in a human squamous cell carcinoma cell line, SAS, with identical genetic backgrounds except for the p53 status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed colony formation assay, Western blotting and analyses of apoptosis, using the SAS cells transfected with pC53-248 vector with mutant p53 gene (SAS/Trp248 cells) or the cells transfected with pCMV-Neo-Bam vector (SAS/neo cells) as a control.

RESULTS

SAS/Trp248 cells showed heat resistance due to the dominant negative nature of mp53, compared with SAS/neo cells. The incidence of DNA ladders and apoptotic bodies increased markedly after heating in SAS/neo cells, but increased very little in SAS/Trp248 cells.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that heat resistance brought by mp53-transfection is p53-dependent and closely correlates with the induction of apoptosis in human squamous cell carcinomas.

Effects of protein kinase inhibitors on radiation-induced WAF1 accumulation in human cultured melanoma cells

To examine whether protein kinase C (PKC) and A (PKA) contribute to WAF1 induction by ionizing radiation (IR) in cultured human melanomas, the effect of PK inhibitors 1-(5'-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H7), bisindolylmaleimide (GF) and N-[2(p-dromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide (H89) on IR-induced WAF1 accumulation was analysed by Western blot analysis. Gamma-ray-induced accumulation of WAF1 showed a peak at 6 Gy in all the cell lines. After gamma-ray irradiation of 6 Gy, a peak of WAF1 accumulation was observed at 6 h in SK-Mel-26, G361 and HM6KO cells, and at 3 h in MeWo cells. In MeWo and SK-Mel-26 cells, the X-ray-induced WAF1 accumulation was decreased by PK inhibitors, GF (PKC inhibitor) or H89 (PKA inhibitor); this did not occur in G361 and HM6KO. In all the cell lines, accumulation of WAF1 induced by X-ray irradiation was suppressed by H7 (PKC and PKA inhibitor). In addition, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism analysis detected no aberrations in the p53 gene of the four cell lines used. These results suggest that IR-induced WAF1 expression involves PKC and/or PKA activity depending on cell type.