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Research Paper

Didox (A Novel Ribonucleotide Reductase Inhibitor) Overcomes bcl-2 Mediated Radiation Resistance in Prostate Cancer Cell Line PC-3

Mohammed S. Inayat, Damodaran Chendil, Mohammed Mohiuddin, Howard L. Elford, Vincent S. Gallicchio and Mansoor M. Ahmed

volume 1 | issue 5

September/October 2002
Pages: 539-545

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In this study, we investigated the influence of bcl-2 overexpression on the radiosensitizing potential of Didox (DX; 3,4-Dihydroxybenzohydroxamic acid), a novel ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor, in p53-null prostate cancer cell line PC-3. The PC-3 cells were transfected with vector alone or ectopically overexpressed with CMV-bcl-2 construct. The effect of radiation (IR) or DX alone and in combination (pre and post IR exposure of DX) on cell survival was determined by colony-forming assay. The impact of these two treatments on the cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. To further understand the molecular mechanism of DX-mediated radiosensitization, induction of pro-survival and pro-apoptotic factors were determined by Western blot and gel-shift assays respectively. When compared to PC-3/bcl-2 cells (SF2=0.84; D0=437cGy), the PC-3/vector cells (SF2=0.4; D0=235cGy) were significantly sensitive to ionizing radiation (p<0.001). Exposure of DX at 5mM concentration prior or post to radiation in both PC-3/vector and PC-3/bcl-2 transfectants caused an increase in radiation enhancement ratios. A significant reduction in G2M phase was observed in cells exposed to DX post IR when compared to cells exposed to IR alone. Exposure to DX after radiation in PC-3/vector significantly abrogated radiation-induced bcl-2 upregulation, with a concomitant induction of bax protein. In PC-3/bcl-2 transfectants, DX exposure after IR caused an induction of bax protein. Gel shift assays indicated that in PC-3/vector cells when exposed to IR caused an induction of NFk-B activity however, DX down regulated the NFk-B activity. Radiation-induced NFk-B activity was abrogated in pre and post DX exposure in combination with IR. These findings indicate that DX mediates a potent radiosensitizing effect in p53 null prostate cancer cells by overcoming radiation induced NFk-B activity and bcl-2 expression.

Key Words:

Didox, Radiosensitization, Prostate cancer, Bcl-2, Cell cycle, Apoptosis, Ribonucleotide reductase and NFk-B




We now provide open access to journal articles published online for one year or more. This article may be downloaded at the following link:

 Download PDF

If the document does not open, please right-click on the link (control-click on a Macintosh) and select the option to save the file to disk.