Radiobiological effects of docetaxel (Taxotere): a potential radiation sensitizer

• Published in: International journal of radiation biology Vol. 75; no. 6; pp. 731 - 737
• Main Author: CREANE, C. B. SEYMOUR, S. COLUCCI, C. MOTHERSILL, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Informa UK Ltd 1999; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - radiation effects; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Cell Survival - drug effects; Docetaxel; Genes, p53; Humans; Medical sciences; Paclitaxel - analogs & derivatives; Paclitaxel - pharmacology; Physical agents; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Space life sciences; Taxoids; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumors; Antineoplastic agent; TP53 Gene; Cell line; Radiosensitivity; Taxane derivatives; Docetaxel; Biological effect; Mechanism of action; Antimitotic; Tumor cell; Survival curve; Colony forming cell
• ISSN: 0955-3002; 1362-3095
• DOI: 10.1080/095530099140078

Purpose: To investigate the ability of docetaxel (Taxotere) to radiosensitize human cell lines of differing malignant status, intrinsic radiosensitivity and p53 status. Materials and methods: Cell survival following treatment with drug and/or radiation was determined by colony-forming assay on two malignant human colon cell lines of widely different radiosensitivity (HT29 and SW48). An immortal human keratinocyte line (HaCaT), which does not form tumours in nude mice, was used to assess the effect on non-malignant human epithelium. Results: The experiments indicate that docetaxel had the greatest cytotoxic and radiosensitizing effect on the SW48 (p53wt) cell line. The degree of radiosensitization was not improved by increasing the drug concentration, although the overall cytotoxicity was increased with increasing concentrations of the two agents. Both p53m ut lines were less sensitive to the drug, irrespective of their malignant potential. Conclusion: The results support a role for Taxotere as a weak radiosensitizer of the three cell lines tested. The p53 status and intrinsic radiosensitivity may be relevant to the mechanism.