DNA damage inducible-gene expression following platinum treatment in human ovarian carcinoma cell lines.

Purpose: DNA damage-inducible genes, such as gadd153, gadd45, p21 and c-jun, have previously been shown to be induced by the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. One of these genes, gadd153, has previously been reported to be differentially expressed in cisplatin-resistant cell lines and, therefore, to be a potential prognostic indicator for tumor response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. It is not currently known whether such damage-inducible genes are turned on by the DNA damage itself (e.g. by the formation of Pt-DNA adducts) or by the downstream biological consequences of that damage. It is also not known whether the increased expression of these DNA-damage-inducible genes is related to immediate protective responses such as DNA repair or to more delayed responses such as cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. These experiments were initiated to characterize more fully the nature of the DNA damage-inducible response to cisplatin treatment and to determine whether any of these genes might be useful prognostic indicators of tumor response to cisplatin chemotherapy. Methods: The dose-response and time-course for the induction of the DNA damage-inducible genes gadd153, gadd45, p21 and c-jun were examined by Northern analysis in the human ovarian carcinoma cell line 2008 and its resistant subclone C13* following treatment with platinum anticancer agents. The extent of gene expression was correlated with cytotoxicity determined by growth inhibition assay, Pt-DNA adducts determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and inhibition of DNA synthesis determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Results: All four genes were induced maximally in both sensitive and resistant cell lines at lethal cisplatin doses (≥ ID90). Induction was maximal between 24 and 48 h following exposure to the drug for all genes except c-jun which was induced by 6 h. At 24 h following cisplatin treatment the overall levels of gadd153 were less in the resistant C13* cell line than in the parental 2008 cell line, while those of gadd45 were greater in C13* than in 2008. Maximal expression of p21 and c-jun was not significantly different in the two cell lines. The dose-response of these genes correlated with the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and the inhibition of DNA synthesis by cisplatin, rather than to the actual levels of Pt-DNA adducts. The more cytotoxic platinum analog, ormaplatin, also induced gadd153 and its induction was also based on cytotoxicity. Conclusion: These results suggest that the regulation of gadd153 and gadd45 expression occurs thorough separate pathways in the 2008 and C13* cell lines. The DNA damage-inducible gene response for all four damage-inducible genes tested appeared to be more directly correlated with downstream biologic effects of cisplatin damage than with actual Pt-DNA adduct levels. The time-course and dose-response for induction of these genes was more consistent with delayed responses such as apoptosis rather than more immediate responses such as DNA repair. Finally, these results strengthen previous suggestions that the expression of gadd153, and possibly other DNA damage-inducible genes, may be useful indicators of tumor response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.