title: DNA-dependent protein kinase in leukaemia cells and correlation with drug sensitivity.
abstract: We investigated whether the levels of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity and content correlate with drug sensitivity in different tumour materials and if this can be utilised in predicting treatment outcome. DNA-PK activity and expression were investigated in tumour cells from 8 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and 18 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), using Western blot and DNA-PK kinase activity assay. Tumour cells from the patients were investigated for their drug sensitivity to topoisomerase II inhibitors (doxorubicin and etoposide), DNA reactive agents (melphalan, 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide and cisplatinum), an antimetabolite (cytosine arabinoside) and an antimicrotubule agent (vincristine) by fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA). Within each group of leukaemia there was a large variation in both DNA-PK activity and DNA-PKcs expression, while the Ku subunits were expressed more homogeneously. In CLL cells, sensitivity to topoisomerase II inhibitors correlated with DNA-PKcs protein expression (r=0.7174, p=0.0452). In AML samples, sensitivity to DNA cross-linking alkylating agents correlated with Ku86 (r=-0.7512, p=0.0031) and Ku70 (r=-0.6134, p=0.0258) expression. Unexpectedly, DNA-PK activity was found to correlate with sensitivity to vincristine in both CLL (r=0.8557, p=0.0067) and AML (r=0.5480, p=0.0228) cells. The results indicate that DNA-PK is not only involved in the recognition of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), but also other DNA lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lewensoh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; C497263:PRKDC protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases