Different inducibility of radiation- or heat-induced p53-dependent apoptosis after acute or chronic irradiation in human cultured squamous cell carcinoma cells

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of acute or chronic pre-irradiation on the induction of p53-dependent apoptosis by X-rays or heat shock. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Having an identical genotype except for p53-status, the human cultured squamous cell carcinoma cells (SAS) were transfected with a mutant p53 gene (SAS/mp53) or neo alone (SAS/neo) as a control. After acute X-irradiation (1 Gy min(-1)), chronic gamma-irradiation (0.001 Gy min(-1)) or heat shock (44 degrees C), the cells were for the incidence of apoptotic bodies and DNA ladders, cellular levels of p53 and bax, and caspase-3 activity. RESULTS: It was found that (1) a challenge treatment with X-rays (5.O Gy) or heat shock (30 min) immediately after chronic pre-irradiation (1.5 Gy) but not acute pre-irradiation (1.5 Gy) resulted in lower levels of apoptosis than those observed after challenge treatment only in SAS/neo cells; (2) a challenge treatment-induced apoptosis was observed 48 h after cessation of chronic pre-irradiation in SAS/neo cells; (3) apoptosis was barely increased in SAS/mp53 cells; and (4) the levels of apoptosis-related proteins after challenge treatments were strongly correlated with the above phenomena. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pre-irradiation at a low dose-rate suppressed induction of p53-dependent apoptosis via bax and caspase-3. These findings suggest that chronic pre-irradiation suppressed p53 function through radiation-induced signalling and/or p53 stability.     

Effects of a heat shock protein inhibitor KNK437 on heat sensitivity and heat tolerance in human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines differing in p53 status

Purpose: The effects of a heat shock protein (hsp) inhibitor KNK437 (N‐formyl‐3,4‐methylenedioxy‐benzylidene‐γ‐butyrolactam) were examined on the heat sensitivity and heat tolerance of human cancer cells with special reference to p53 status.

Materials and methods: Human squamous cell carcinoma (SAS) and glioblastoma cell lines (A‐172) transfected with mutant p53 (mp53) or control neo genes were used. KNK437 was added in culture medium at a final concentration of 50, 100 or 300?µM 1?h before heating (42°C). Surviving fractions of cells were measured by use of a clonogenic assay. Effects of KNK437 on the accumulation of heat shock proteins and DNA binding activity of heat shock factor 1 were examined with Western blot analysis and gel mobility‐shift assay, respectively. Heat‐induced apoptotic bodies were detected by Hoechst 33342 staining.

Results: The mp53‐transfected SAS (SAS/mp53) and A‐172 (A‐172/mp53) cells were more resistant to heat than the neomycin (neo)‐transfected SAS (SAS/neo) and A‐172 (A‐172/neo) cells. The constitutive amount of hsp27 was larger in SAS/mp53 than in SAS/neo cells. Clear differences in the constitutive amounts of hsp40, hsp72 and hsp90 were not observed between SAS/mp53 and SAS/neo cells. KNK437 enhanced the heat sensitivity in SAS/mp53 and A‐172/mp53 cells more effectively than in neo control cells. Heat tolerance was suppressed by KNK437 in SAS/mp53 and SAS/neo cells and also in A‐172/mp53 and A‐172/neo cells. Along with suppression of heat tolerance, KNK437 suppressed heat‐induced accumulation of both hsp27 and hsp72. Heat‐induced apoptotic bodies were enhanced by KNK437 in SAS/mp53 and SAS/neo cells.

Conclusion: The results suggest a possible mechanism for the heat sensitivity of SAS cells. Heat sensitivity depends on p53 status regulating the amount of hsp27. Heat tolerance is suppressed by KNK437 through the suppression of heat‐induced accumulations of hsp27 and hsp72 and the induction of p53‐independent apoptosis.     

Comparison of [18F]FDG uptake and distribution with hypoxia and proliferation in FaDu human squamous cell carcinoma (hSCC) xenografts after single dose irradiation

Purpose: This study investigated the uptake of [¹⁸F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose ([¹⁸F]FDG) in the human tumour xenograft FaDu at early time points after single dose irradiation with Positron-Emission-Tomography (PET), autoradiography and functional histology.

Materials and methods: [¹⁸F]FDG-PET of FaDu hSCC xenografts on nude mice was performed before 25 Gy or 35 Gy single dose irradiation and one, seven or 11 days post irradiation (p.irr.). Before the second PET, mice were injected with pimonidazole (pimo) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). After the PET tumours were excised, sliced and subjected to autoradiography and functional histology staining (pimo, BrdU, Ki67). [¹⁸F]FDG tumour uptake was quantified in the PET scans by maximal standard uptake value (SUV_max) and in the autoradiography after co-registration to the histology slices.

Results: No differences in the overall [¹⁸F]FDG uptake between the two dose groups and time points were found with PET or autoradiography. Comparing autoradiography and histology, the [¹⁸F]FDG uptake was constant in tumour necrosis over time, while it decreased in vital tumour areas and particularly in hypoxic regions. No differences in the [¹⁸F]FDG uptake between positive and negative areas of Ki67 and BrdU were found.

Conclusions: The decline of [¹⁸F]FDG uptake in vital tumour and in pimopositive areas as seen in autoradiography, was not reflected by evaluation of SUV_max determined by PET. These findings suggest that the SUV_max does not necessarily reflect changes in tumour biology after irradiation.     

Selective inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase by BIBX1382BS and the improvement of growth delay,but not local control,after fractionated irradiation in human FaDu squamous cell carcinoma in the nude mouse

Purpose: To investigate the effect of BIBX1382BS, an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, on proliferation and clonogenic cell survival of FaDu human squamous cell carcinoma in vitro, and on tumour growth and local tumour control after fractionated irradiation over 6 weeks in nude mice. FaDu human squamous cell carcinoma is epidermal growth factor receptor positive and significant repopulation during fractionated irradiation was demonstrated in previous experiments.

Materials and methods: Receptor status, receptor phosphorylation, cell cycle distribution, cell proliferation and clonogenic cell survival after irradiation were assayed with and without BIBX1382BS (5?µM) in vitro. Tumour volume doubling time, BrdUrd and Ki67 labelling indices and apoptosis were investigated in unirradiated tumours growing in NMRI nude mice treated daily with BIBX1382BS (50?mg?kg^?1 body weight orally) or carrier. Tumour growth delay and dose–response curves for local tumour control were determined after irradiation with 30 fractions within 6 weeks.

Results: BIBX1382BS blocked radiation‐induced phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and reduced the doubling time of FaDu cells growing in vitro by a factor of 4.9 (p=0.008). Radiosensitivity in vitro remained unchanged after incubation with BIBX1382BS for 3 days and decreased moderately after 6 days (p=0.001). BIBX1382BS significantly reduced the volume doubling time of established FaDu tumours in nude mice by factors of 2.6 when given over 15 days (p<0.001) and 3.7 when applied over 6 weeks (p<0.001). When given simultaneously to fractionated irradiation, growth delay was significantly prolonged by an average of 33 days (p=0.003). Local tumour control was not improved by BIBX1382BS. The radiation doses necessary to control 50% of the tumours locally were 63.6?Gy (95% confidence interval 55; 73) for irradiation alone and 67.8?Gy (60; 77) for the combined treatment (p=0.5).

Conclusions: Despite clear antiproliferative activity in rapidly repopulating FaDu human squamous cell carcinoma and significantly increased tumour growth delay when combined with fractionated irradiation, local tumour control was not improved by BIBX1382BS. The results do not disprove that epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition might enhance the results of radiotherapy. However, the results imply that further preclinical investigations using relevant treatment schedules and appropriate endpoints are necessary to explore the mechanisms of action and efficacy of such combinations.