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Radiation Oncology
Published in: Radiation Oncology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

The in vitro immunogenic potential of caspase-3 proficient breast cancer cells with basal low immunogenicity is increased by hypofractionated irradiation

Authors: Bernhard Kötter, Benjamin Frey, Markus Winderl, Yvonne Rubner, Heike Scheithauer, Renate Sieber, Rainer Fietkau, Udo S. Gaipl

Published in: Radiation Oncology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Radiotherapy is an integral part of breast cancer treatment. Immune activating properties of especially hypofractionated irradiation are in the spotlight of clinicians, besides the well-known effects of radiotherapy on cell cycle and the reduction of the clonogenic potential of tumor cells. Especially combination of radiotherapy with further immune stimulation induces immune-mediated anti-tumor responses. We therefore examined whether hypofractionated irradiation alone or in combination with hyperthermia as immune stimulants is capable of inducing breast cancer cells with immunogenic potential.

Methods

Clonogenic assay, AnnexinA5-FITC/Propidium iodide assay and ELISA analyses of heat shock protein 70 and high mobility group box 1 protein were applied to characterize colony forming capability, cell death induction, cell death forms and release of danger signals by breast cancer cells in response to hypofractionated radiation (4x4Gy, 6x3Gy) alone and in combination with hyperthermia (41.5 °C for 1 h). Caspase-3 deficient, hormone receptor positive, p53 wild type MCF-7 and caspase-3 intact, hormone receptor negative, p53 mutated MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells, the latter in absence or presence of the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk, were used. Supernatants of the treated tumor cells were analyzed for their potential to alter the surface expression of activation markers on human-monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Results

Irradiation reduced the clonogenicity of caspase deficient MCF-7 cells more than of MDA-B231 cells. In contrast, higher amounts of apoptotic and necrotic cells were induced in MDA-B231 cells after single irradiation with 4Gy, 10Gy, or 20Gy or after hypofractionated irradiation with 4x4Gy or 6x3Gy. MDA-B231 cells consecutively released higher amounts of Hsp70 and HMGB1 after hypofractionated irradiation. However, only the release of Hsp70 was further increased by hyperthermia. Both, apoptosis induction and release of the danger signals, was dependent on caspase-3. Only supernatants of MDA-B231 cells after hypofractionated irradiation resulted in slight changes of activation markers on dendritic cells; especially that of CD86 was upregulated and HT did not further impact on it.

Conclusions

Hypofractionated irradiation is the main stimulus for cell death induction and consecutive dendritic cell activation in caspase proficient breast cancer cells. For the assessment of radiosensitivity and immunological effects of radio- and immunotherapies the readout system is crucial.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The in vitro immunogenic potential of caspase-3 proficient breast cancer cells with basal low immunogenicity is increased by hypofractionated irradiation
Authors
Bernhard Kötter
Benjamin Frey
Markus Winderl
Yvonne Rubner
Heike Scheithauer
Renate Sieber
Rainer Fietkau
Udo S. Gaipl
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Radiation Oncology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1748-717X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-015-0506-5

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