Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2003 Apr;46(4):725-731.

The Cytotoxic and Radiosensitizing Effects of Taxol in Uterine Sarcoma Cell Lines

• Lee HY
• Park DC
• Kim SW
• Lew YO
• Kim DH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The cytotoxic and radiosensitizing effects of Taxol in uterine sarcoma cell lines were investigated.
METHODS
Two uterine sarcoma cell lines with different Taxol responses were used, namely, Taxol- sensitive and MDR gene negative MES-SA, and Taxol-resistant and MDR gene positive MES-SA/MX2 cells. These cells were treated with Taxol, radiation, or both, and cytotoxicities were compared by XTT assay and TUNEL staining. The cytotoxic mechanism was also studied by flow cytometry and by RT-PCR of the MDR gene expression.
RESULTS
In Taxol-sensitive MES-SA cell lines, Taxol showed highly cytotoxic activity than radiation or the Taxol-radiation combined treatment. On the contrary, in Taxol-resistant MDR positive MES-SA/MX2 cell lines, Taxol significantly increased the sensitivity to radiation therapy, and increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Flow cytometry showed that treatment with Taxol alone produced the highest rate of cell cycle shifting to the G0/G1 phase in the MES-SA cell line. However, in the MES-SA/MX2 cell line, Taxol only treatment did not show significant cell cycle shifting compared to the control group. However, in cases of combined Taxolradiation treatment, the rate of cell cycle shifting was higher than for radiation treatment only.
CONCLUSION
Taxol has cytotoxic and radiosensitizing effects on uterine sarcoma cell lines.

Keyword

Uterine sarcoma cell lines; Taxol; Cytotoxic effect; Radiosensitizing effect

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Cell Cycle
Cell Line*
Flow Cytometry
Genes, MDR
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Paclitaxel*
Radiation-Sensitizing Agents*
Sarcoma*
Paclitaxel
Radiation-Sensitizing Agents