Elevated HDAC activity and altered histone phospho-acetylation confer acquired radio-resistant phenotype to breast cancer cells.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Poor-responsiveness of tumors to radiotherapy is a major clinical problem. Owing to the dynamic nature of the epigenome, the identification and targeting of potential epigenetic modifiers may be helpful to curb radio-resistance. This requires a detailed exploration of the epigenetic changes that occur during the acquirement of radio-resistance. Such an understanding can be applied for effective utilization of treatment adjuncts to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy and reduce the incidence of tumor recurrence. RESULTS:This study explored the epigenetic alterations that occur during the acquirement of radio-resistance. Sequential irradiation of MCF7 breast cancer cell line up to 20?Gy generated a radio-resistant model. Micrococcal nuclease digestion demonstrated the presence of compact chromatin architecture coupled with decreased levels of histone PTMs H3K9ac, H3K27?ac, and H3S10pK14ac in the G0/G1 and mitotic cell cycle phases of the radio-resistant cells. Further investigation revealed that the radio-resistant population possessed high HDAC and low HAT activity, thus making them suitable candidates for HDAC inhibitor-based radio-sensitization. Treatment of radio-resistant cells with HDAC inhibitor valproic acid led to the retention of ?H2AX and decreased H3S10p after irradiation. Additionally, an analysis of 38 human patient samples obtained from 8 different tumor types showed variable tumor HDAC activity, thus demonstrating inter-tumoral epigenetic heterogeneity in a patient population. CONCLUSION:The study revealed that an imbalance of HAT and HDAC activities led to the loss of site-specific histone acetylation and chromatin compaction as breast cancer cells acquired radio-resistance. Due to variation in the tumor HDAC activity among patients, our report suggests performing a prior assessment of the tumor epigenome to maximize the benefit of HDAC inhibitor-based radio-sensitization.
SUBMITTER: Sharda A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6942324 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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