Relationship between telomere length and radiosensitivity in various human cancer cell lines

Objective: To investigate the relationship between telomere length and radiosensitivity in various human cancer cell lines with the expectation to find a valid and common predictor of radiosensitivity for different cancers. Methods: Eight human cancer cell lines were used, including five human breast cancer cell lines (ZR-75-30, MCF-7, MDA-MB-435S, T-47-D, F539-1590), two human larynx squamous carcinoma cell lines (Hep-2 and Hep-2R) and a human malignant glioma cell line (U251). Among them, the radioresistant cell line Hep-2R was isolated and established from a radiosensitive human larynx squamous carcinoma cell line Hep-2 by our center. The radiobiological characteristics of the eight lines were analyzed by the method of colony-forming assay and the radiosensitivity parameters were calculated. Telomere length was analyzed by TRF (mean Telomere Restriction Fragments) length assay. Results: The radioresistance of Hep-2R cell line proved to be stable in long-term passaged cultures as well as in frozen samples. Radiosensitivity parameters are different among those lines. The SF2 values of Hep-2 and U251 are 0.4148 and 0.7520, respectively; The SF2 values of breast cancer cell lines are between those of Hep-2 and U251. The TRF of Hep-2R is 11.12Kb, longer than three times that of its parental counterpart. There is a positive correlation both between SF2 and TRF (r=0.786, P<0.05), and between D0 and TRF (r=0.905, P<0.01). Conclusion: It is concluded that radiosensitivity and telomere length (TRF) are negatively correlated, TRF could be a valid predictor for radiosensitivity.