The Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide and/or Radiation on the Survival of Clinically Relevant Radioresistant Cells.

BACKGROUND

Radiation therapy is a highly cost-effective treatment for cancer, but the existence of radio-resistant cells remains the most critical obstacle in radiotherapy. We have been established clinically relevant radioresistant (CRR) cell lines by exposure to a stepwise increase of fractionated X-rays. We are trying to overcome the radio-resistance by analyzing the properties of these cells. In this study, we tried to evaluate the effects of hydrogen peroxide (HO) on the CRR cells because this can evaluate the efficacy of Kochi Oxydol-Radiation Therapy for Unresectable Carcinomas (KORTUC) that treats HO before irradiation. We also established HO-resistant cells to compare the radiation and HO resistant phenotype.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used human cancer cell lines derived from hepatoblastoma (HepG2), oral squamous cell carcinoma (SAS), and cervical cancer (HeLa). We established HepG2, SAS, and HeLa CRR cells and HepG2, SAS, and HeLa HO-resistant cells. To evaluate their sensitivity to radiation or HO, high-density survival assay, or WST assay was performed. CellROX was used to detect intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).

RESULTS

CRR cells were resistant to HO-induced cell death but HO-resistant cells were not resistant to irradiation. This phenotype of CRR cells was irreversible. The intracellular ROS was increased in parental cells after HO treatment for 3 h, but in CRR cells, no significant increase was observed.

CONCLUSION

Fractionated X-ray exposure induces HO resistance in CRR cells. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out cancer therapy such as KORTUC with the presence of these resistant cells in mind, and as the next stage, it would be necessary to investigate the appearance rate of these cells immediately and take countermeasures.