Abstract
Purpose : Late G 2 and M are the most radiosensitive phases of the cell cycle. Cells exposed to paclitaxel develop a cell cycle arrest in G 2/M. These studies were performed to assess the in vitro radiosensitization properties of paclitaxel in human tumor and rodent cell lines. Methods and Materials : The effect of paclitaxel on the radiation sensitivity of human breast (MCF-7), lung (A549), ovary (OVG-1) adenocarcinoma and Chinese hamster lung fibroblast V79 cells was determined with clonogenic assays. DNA flow cytometry studies were performed to define the cell cycle characteristics of the cells during irradiation. Survival curve parameters for all cell lines were determined with the use of a computer program which represents cell survival after radiation by a linear-quadratic model. Results : All cell lines developed a G 2/M block after exposure to paclitaxel for 24 h. However, the degree of radiosensitization produced by paclitaxel varied among the cell lines. The maximal sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) of paclitaxel was 1.8 in MCF-7 cells, 1.6 in OVG-1 cells, and 1.7 in V79 cells. However, no concentration of paclitaxel was able to enhance the radiation sensitivity of A549 cells. Paclitaxel increased the linear (α) component of the radiation survival curves in all cell lines. The quadratic (β) component was unaffected by paclitaxel in the rodent cells. High concentrations of paclitaxel (≥ 1000 nM) increased β slightly in the human cell lines but there was considerable variation in the effect of paclitaxel on β. The cells which were sensitized to radiation by paclitaxel had a relatively small baseline a component, while A549 cells had a large a component. Conclusion : We conclude that paclitaxel is a modest radiosensitizer in some, but not all, human tumor cells. Paclitaxel appears to cause radiosensitization mainly by increasing the α component of radiation survival curves. Cells that normally have a relatively small a component should exhibit the most radiosensitization in response to paclitaxel while cells with a large a component should show little or no radiosensitzation after paclitaxel treatment. Because the greatest effect of paclitaxel is on the linear component of radiation survival curves, these results indicate that paclitaxel may be an effective radiation sensitizer in many human tumors treated at clinically relevant radiation doses of 2 Gy or less.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.