Ras Proteins and Human Tumor Cell Radiosensitivity

Ras proteins (H-, N-, K4A-, and K4B) are associated with cellular resistance to ionizing radiation (IR) and, consequently, may provide a potential target for radiosensitization strategies in cancer treatment. Several approaches have been used to compromise Ras activity and enhance IR-induced cell killing; however, these techniques either target proteins in addition to Ras or only target one member of the Ras family. In this study, I have used an adenovirus (AV1Y28) that expresses a single-chain antibody fragment directed against Ras proteins to investigate the mechanism(s) responsible for Ras-mediated radiation resistance. AV1Y28 enhanced the radiosensitivity of a number of human tumor cell lines without affecting the radiosensitivity of normal human fibroblasts. Whereas AV1Y28-mediated sensitization was independent of ras gene mutational status, it was dependent on active Ras proteins suggesting that AV1Y28 may be useful against a broad range of tumors. AV1Y28-mediated cell killing was not the result of redistributing cells into a more radiosensitive phase of the cell cycle and did not enhance IR-induced apoptosis. Given that Ras proteins transduce environmental signals to the nucleus, the effect of AV1Y28 on the IR-inducible transcription factor NF-κB were determined. Although AV1Y28 inhibited IR-induced NF-κB through the suppression of IKK, additional work established that NF-κB did not play a role in AV1Y28-mediated radiosensitization. However, a novel component of the signaling pathway responsible for IR-induced NF-κB was identified. Previous studies had suggested a relationship between mutant ras genes and IR-induced G2 delay; therefore the effects of AV1Y28 on the progression of cells from G2 to M after IR were determined. Pretreatment of cells with AV1Y28 prevented the IR-induced G2 arrest. AV1Y28-mediated abrogation of IR-induced G2 arrest correlated with those cell line lines that were sensitized by AV1Y28. Moreover, a significant increase in cells undergoing mitotic catastrophe was found after IR in AV1Y28 treated cells. The abrogation of G2 arrest by AV1Y28 was the result of maintaining the active form of cdc2, an inducer of mitosis, after exposure to IR. This study identified the mechanism of AV1Y28-mediated radiosensitization and has provided insight into the signal transduction pathways responsible for Ras-mediated radiation resistance