Kirsten A. Skov

Low dose hyper-radiosensitivity and increased radioresistance in mammalian cells

This manuscript reviews the low-dose survival work using the DMIPS cell analyser that has been carried out at the Gray Laboratory in the U.K. and the British Columbia Cancer Research Centre in Canada. It describes low dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS) detected after single doses of X-rays less than approximately 0.3 Gy and the subsequent increased radioresistant response (IRR) seen as the dose increases up to 1 Gy. Work is summarized from studies in V79 cells, normal human and human tumour cell lines and mutant cell lines deficient in DNA repair. The data are considered in light of the hypothesis that hyper-radiosensitivity and increased radioresistance reflect the existence of an inducible protective mechanism, possibly triggered by DNA damage.

Overexpression of the cytoprotective protein clusterin decreases radiosensitivity in the human LNCaP prostate tumour model

The paper by Zellweger et al. builds on the continuing story of clusterin (TRPM‐2) in the development and progression of prostate cancer. This group have published a series of papers on this protein, showing that it correlates with progression to androgen‐independence and resistance to apoptosis. One of their recent papers has shown that ‘knocking out’ clusterin increases radiation sensitivity in prostate cancer cells. The current paper reports that increasing the expression of clusterin in LNCaP cells increases the cells resistance to radiation‐induced apoptosis. Manipulating identified survival proteins has important implications in preventing androgen‐independent progression. Clusterin is such a survival protein and represents an important drug target in the near future.

Characterization of high mobility group protein binding to cisplatin-damaged DNA.

cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin, CDDP) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. While many tumors are highly responsive to CDDP, certain tumors are resistant to this drug, limiting its efficacy. The anti-tumor activity of CDDP is believed to result from its coordination bonding to chromosomal DNA. Alterations in tumor cell sensitivity to CDDP may result from the presence or absence of protein(s) which specifically recognize CDDP-damaged DNA. We have developed a damaged-DNA affinity precipitation assay that allows the direct identification of cellular proteins that bind to CDDP-damaged DNA. Using this procedure, we have identified several proteins which specifically bind to CDDP-damaged DNA. Two of these proteins have been identified as high mobility group proteins (HMG) 1 and 2 in the current report, we have characterized the binding of these proteins to CDDP-DNA. The calculated Kd of binding to CDDP-damaged DNA was 3.27 x 10(-10) for HMG1 and 1.87 x 10(-10) for HMG2. Using highly specific chemical modifying reagents, we have determined that Cys residues play an important role in protein binding. We also observed that HMG2 will bind to DNA modified with carboplatin and iproplatin although to a lesser extent than to DNA damaged with CDDP. Thus, our results indicate that HMG 2 binds with high affinity to DNA modified with therapeutically active platinum compounds. In addition, our findings suggest that thiol groups play an essential role in the binding of HMG1 and HMG2 to CDDP-DNA.

Platinum complexes with one radiosensitizing ligand

Complexes of platinum II containing a single radiosensitizer ligand and an amino or ammine substituent shows superior binding to DNA and are useful in chemotherapy and sensitization of hypoxic tumors to radiation. The chemotherapeutic value of these compounds is enhanced by administration of vasoactive agents.

The Effect of Oxygen on Low-Dose Hypersensitivity and Increased Radioresistance in Chinese Hamster V79-379A Cells

Chinese hamster V79 cells irradiated in air are hypersensitive to X-ray doses less than 0.5 Gy and show an increased radioresistance over the dose range 0.5-1 Gy (Marples and Joiner, Radiat. Res. 133, 41-51, 1993). Of considerable interest from both a mechanistic and clinical viewpoint is the response of hypoxic cells over this dose range. The data presented here indicate that hypoxic cells are also hypersensitive to low X-ray doses and exhibit an increased radioresistant response, albeit triggered at a somewhat higher dose (0.69 Gy, SEM +/- 0.18 Gy) than observed in oxygenated cells (0.5 Gy, SEM +/- 0.21 Gy). These data indicate that the triggering event for increased radioresistance may be independent of oxygen. As reported by others previously, the oxygen enhancement ratio was found to decrease with a decreasing X-ray dose.

The Contribution of Hydroxyl Radical to Radiosensitization: A Study of DNA Damage

Using the radioprotector dimethylsulfoxide, DMSO, as a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, the proportions of DNA damage caused by OH. were determined in mammalian cells irradiated in hypoxia with or without the radiosensitizers misonidazole and TAN or in air. Yields of both single-strand breaks (SSB) and base/sugar damage (MLS for Micrococcus luteus sensitive sites) were measured for each situation. Most of the damage enhanced by the sensitizers was found to be OH. dependent, for both MLS and SSB classes of damage: most breaks (greater than 80%) enhanced by oxygen and about two-thirds of the breaks enhanced by misonidazole (hypoxia) occur at OH.-damaged sites; most if not all base/sugar damage enhanced by the sensitizers misonidazole and TAN (in hypoxia) occurs only in the presence of OH., whereas in air, some (about one-quarter) of the enhanced MLS damage does not require OH.. The sensitizer enhancement ratios in the presence of scavenger and the degree of protection afforded by the scavenger determined for total (MLS + SSB) damage agree well with those derived from corresponding survival experiments.

Radiosensitization of Mammalian Cells by Misonidazole and Oxygen: DNA Damage Exposed by Micrococcus luteus Enzymes

When misonidazole is present during irradiation of hypoxic mammalian cells, an enhancement of single-strand breaks (SSB) in DNA is observed. Oxygen also enhances SSB, presumably in a manner similar to that of misonidazole. The dose-modifying factor (DMF) for 15 mM misonidazole was found to be 3.4, compared to an oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) of 3.5. Another class of DNA damage, namely, sites exposed by an extract of Micrococcus luteus, was examined. Radiation-induced M. luteus extract-sensitive sites (MLS) were also found to be enhanced by the presence of misonidazole or molecular oxygen. The DMF for this damage by 15 mM misonidazole was 1.6 while the OER was 2.5. The ratio of MLS to SSB is approximately 1.25 under hypoxia, 0.9 in the presence of oxygen, and 0.6 in the presence of 15 mM misonidazole under hypoxic conditions. Incubation with misonidazole under conditions which are toxic to mammalian cells (37/sup 0/C, hypoxia), and which result in many SSB, produces no detectable lesions sensitive to the M. luteus extract.

Modification of radiation response by metal complexes: a review with emphasis of nonplatinum studies.

There is a need to develop compounds which alter the effects of radiation, particularly in the hypoxic radioresistant cell, following the limited success to date of the electron-affinic nitroimidazoles. The chemistry of transition metals is briefly outlined to point out certain aspects which might be exploited in the design of radiosensitizers. The best known clinical example of a metal complex which enhances the effect of radiation in hypoxic cells is the successful antineoplastic cisplatin. Past studies on enhancement of radiation damage by complexes of metals other than platinum, mainly in bacterial spores and bacterial and mammalian cells, have been summarized according to the metal used. The many mechanisms by which metal complexes could interact with radiation are outlined, and examples are given where possible. This survey emphasizes the need for a systematic study of the effect of metal/ligand variation on radiosensitization with regard to mechanisms of action to assess the potential of these compounds as radiosensitizers. Metal complexes offer many advantages, both for the study of mechanisms by which radiation kills cells and for drug development.

Synthesis of new hypoxia markers EF1 and [18F]-EF1

We report on the preparation of a hypoxia marker 2-(2-nitroimidazol-1[H]-yl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl)acetamide (EF1) and its 18F analog, 2-(2-nitroimidazol-1[H]-yl)-N- (3-[18F]fluoropropyl)acetamide ([18F]-EF1). Two methods for the preparation of 3-fluoropropylamine, the EF1 side chain, are described. [18F]-EF1 was prepared with a radiochemical yield of 2% by nucleophilic substitution of bromine in 2-(2-nitroimidazol-1[H]-yl)-N-(3-bromopropyl)acetamide (EBr1) by carrier-added 18F in DMSO at 120 degrees C. Our results demonstrate the preparation of clinically relevant amounts of [18F]-EF1 for use as a non-invasive hypoxia marker with detection using positron emission tomography (PET).

Synthesis and characterization of nitroimidazole complexes of platinum and palladium and the crystal and molecular structure of trans-dichlorobis-(misonidazole) platinum(II)

Abstract The synthesis and properties of some nitroimidazole complexes of platinum and palladium starting from the MCl42- salts are described. Both 5-NO2-imidazole and metronidazole give cis-[MCl2L2] complexes whereas trans-[MCl2L2] is obtained for 2-NO2-imidazole and misonidazole. The crystal structure of trans-dichlorobis(misonidazole)platinum(II) was determined by three-dimensional X-ray methods. The compound crystallized in space group P21/c in discrete monomeric units with a = 11.303(5), b = 13.002(5) and c = 8.125(3) A, B = 91.39(3)°, Z = 2 and the observed and calculated densities are 1.83 and 1.859 respectively. The final full-matrix least-squares refinement gave values of R1 = 0.037 and R2 = 0.045 for 142 variables. The complex is square-planar with Pt-Cl and Pt-N distances of 2.294(3) and 2.016(9) A respectively. The mean plane of the misonidazole ring is twisted 56° with respect to the PtCl2L2 square plane and the Cl-Pt-N angles are 89.4(3) and 90.6(3)°; the nitro group also lies out of the plane of the misonidazole ring. The closest nonbonded contact between non-hydrogen atoms in the unit cells is 2.80 A suggesting hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl proton and the ether oxygen in the misonidazole side-chain, i.e. O-H⋯O. Aspects of the chemistry of these species in relation to their biological activity are discussed.