Proton versus photon radiation-induced cell death in head and neck cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Photon (X-ray) radiotherapy (XRT) kills cells via DNA damage, however, how proton radiotherapy (PRT) causes cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unclear. We investigated mechanisms of HNSCC cell death after XRT versus PRT. METHODS: We assessed type of death in 2 human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and two HPV-negative cell lines: necrosis and apoptosis (Annexin-V fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC]); senescence (ß-galactosidase); and mitotic catastrophe (γ-tubulin and diamidino-phenylindole [DAPI]). RESULTS: The XRT-induced or PRT-induced cellular senescence and mitotic catastrophe in all cell lines studied suggested that PRT caused cell death to a greater extent than XRT. After PRT, mitotic catastrophe peaked in HPV-negative and HPV-positive cells at 48 and 72 hours, respectively. No obvious differences were noted in the extent of cell necrosis or apoptosis after XRT versus PRT. CONCLUSION: Under the conditions and in the cell lines reported here, mitotic catastrophe and senescence were the major types of cell death induced by XRT and PRT, and PRT may be more effective.

Regulatory Mechanism of Radiation-induced Cancer Cell Death by the Change of Cell Cycle / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: In our previous study, we have shown the main cell death pattern induced by irradiation or protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors in K562 human myelogenous leukemic cell line. Death of the cells treated with irradiation alone was characterized by mitotic catastrophe and typical radiation-induced apoptosis was accelerated by herbimycin A (HMA). Both types of cell death were inhibited by genistein. In this study, we investigated the effects of HMA and genistein on cell cycle regulation and its correlation with the alterations of radiation-induced cell death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: K562 cells in exponential growth phase were used for this study. The cells were irradiated with 10 Gy using 6 MeV Linac (200-300 cGy/min). Immediately after irradiation, cells were treated with 250 nM of HMA or 25 microM of genistein. The distributions of cell cycle, the expressions of cell cycle-related protein, the activities of cyclin-dependent kinase, and the yield of senescence and differentiation were analyzed. RESULTS: X-irradiated cells were arrested in the G2 phase of the cell cycle but unlike the p53-positive cells, they were not able to sustain the cell cycle arrest. An accumulation of cells in G2 phase of first cell-cycle post-treatment and an increase of cyclin B1 were correlated with spontaneous, premature, chromosome condensation and mitotic catastrophe. HMA induced rapid G2 checkpoint abrogation and concomitant p53-independent G1 accumulation. HMA-induced cell cycle modifications correlated with the increase of cdc2 kinase activity, the decrease of the expressions of cyclins E and A and of CDK2 kinase activity, and the enhancement of radiation-induced apoptosis. Genistein maintained cells that were arrested in the G2-phase, decreased the expressions of cyclin B1 and cdc25C and cdc2 kinase activity, increased the expression of p16, and sustained senescence and megakaryocytic differentiation. CONCLUSION: The effects of HMA and genistein on the radiation-induced cell death of K562 cells were closely related to the cell cycle regulatory activities. In this study, we present a unique and reproducible model in which for investigating the mechanisms of various, radiation-induced, cancer cell death patterns. Further evaluation by using this model will provide a potent target for a new strategy of radiotherapy.