Overexpression of p21(waf1) decreases G2-M arrest and apoptosis induced by paclitaxel in human sarcoma cells lacking both p53 and functional Rb protein.

We examined the effect of overexpression of p21(waf1) on cytotoxicity of paclitaxel, a microtubule stabilizer, using a tetracycline-inducible expression system in human sarcoma cells (SaOs-2) that lack both functional retinoblastoma protein and p53. Under normal growth conditions, p21(waf1) is not detectable in SaOs-2 cells. Upon p21(waf1) induction by tetracycline withdrawal, we observed a reduced apoptotic response to paclitaxel with a 3- to 6-fold increase in IC50 values compared with that of cells not induced by p21(waf1). We also observed a 5-fold increase in the IC50 value when cytotoxicity to vincristine, another microtubule-disrupting agent, was assessed, whereas we observed a marked decrease in the IC50 value after p21(waf1) induction in response to etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor. After treatment with paclitaxel, less accumulation of G2-M was observed in p21(waf1)-induced cells compared with non-p21(waf1)-induced cells (57% versus 74%). p21(waf1) induction also inhibited the increased cyclin B1-associated kinase activity induced by paclitaxel. Overexpression of p21(waf1) in SaOs-2 cells lacking both p53 and functional retinoblastoma protein may decrease the G2-M arrest induced by paclitaxel due to suppression of the S-G2 checkpoint, resulting in a decreased apoptotic response of cells to paclitaxel.