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Methylxanthine, radiosensitivity and G2 arrest

1-Methylxanthine enhances the radiosensitivity of tumor cells

, , , , , , & , MD, PhD show all
Pages 167-174 | Received 11 Feb 2008, Accepted 17 Nov 2008, Published online: 03 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of a caffeine derivative 1-methylxanthine (1-MTX) in increasing radiosensitivity of cancer cells and elucidate the underlying mechanisms in vitro.

Materials and methods: RKO human colorectal cancer cells carrying wild type protein 53 kDa (p53) were incubated with 3 mM 1-MTX for 30 min, exposed to 4 Gy ionizing radiation, and further incubated with 1-MTX for three days. The clonogenic cell death was determined, and the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were studied with flow cytometry at different times after irradiation. The DNA double strand break (DNA DSB) was examined using phosphorylated Histone2A (γ-H2AX) foci formation, and the expression/activity of checkpoint 2 kinase (Chk2), cell division cycle 25 (Cdc25) phosphatase and cyclin B1/Cdc2 kinase were also investigated using western blotting and in vitro kinase assays.

Results: The treatment with 3 mM 1-MTX increased the radiation-induced clonogenic and apoptotic cell death. The radiation-induced phosphorylation of Chk2 and Cdc25c and the radiation-induced increase in the cyclin B1/Cdc2 kinas activity were little affected by 1-MTX. The radiation-induced G2/M arrest was only slightly shortened and the expression of radiation-induced γ-H2AX was markedly prolonged by 1-MTX.

Conclusions: 1-MTX significantly increased the radiosensitivity of RKO human colorectal cancer cells carrying wild type p53 mainly by inhibiting the repair of radiation-induced DNA DSB without causing significant alteration in radiation-induced G2/M arrest. Such a radiosensitization occurred at 1-MTX concentrations almost non-toxic to the target tumor cells.

Abbreviations
1-MTX=

1-methylxanthine

Caffeine=

1,3,7-trimethylxanthine

DNA DSB=

DNA double-strand break

ATM=

ataxia telangiectasia mutated

PI3K=

phosphoinositide-3 kinase

ATR=

ATM and Rad3-related

NHEJ=

nonhomologous end joining

HRR=

homologous recombination repair

PBS=

phosphate buffered saline

EDTA=

ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid

SDS-PAGE=

sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis

PVDF=

polyvinylidene difluoride

DTT=

dithiothreitol

FITC=

Fluorescein isothiocyanate

Chk1=

checkpoint kinase 1

Chk2=

checkpoint kinase 2

Cdc25=

cell division cycle 25

p53=

protein 53 kDa

p21=

cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (Cip1)

γ-H2AX=

phosphorylated histone2A (serine 139)

DAPI=

4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole

Abbreviations
1-MTX=

1-methylxanthine

Caffeine=

1,3,7-trimethylxanthine

DNA DSB=

DNA double-strand break

ATM=

ataxia telangiectasia mutated

PI3K=

phosphoinositide-3 kinase

ATR=

ATM and Rad3-related

NHEJ=

nonhomologous end joining

HRR=

homologous recombination repair

PBS=

phosphate buffered saline

EDTA=

ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid

SDS-PAGE=

sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis

PVDF=

polyvinylidene difluoride

DTT=

dithiothreitol

FITC=

Fluorescein isothiocyanate

Chk1=

checkpoint kinase 1

Chk2=

checkpoint kinase 2

Cdc25=

cell division cycle 25

p53=

protein 53 kDa

p21=

cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (Cip1)

γ-H2AX=

phosphorylated histone2A (serine 139)

DAPI=

4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole

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