Transient inhibition of Calyculin A induced premature chromosome condensation by hyperthermia

The analysis of chromosomal aberrations by premature chromosome condensation (PCC) induced by Calyculin A (Cal) is feasible in tumor biopsies from patients and has the potential to predict sensitivity to radiotherapy. As hyperthermia (HT) improves radiotherapy outcome in certain tumor sites, it was investigated whether PCC induction is still possible after temperatures reached in the clinic. Human cervical carcinoma (CaSki) and lung carcinoma (SW-1573) cells were incubated with Cal to induce PCC immediately after 1 h treatment at temperatures ranging from 41 degrees C to 43 degrees C and after recovery for up to 24 h after treatment with 43 degrees C. Levels of phosphorylated Cdc2 (at the Tyr15 residue), histone H3 (at the Ser10 residue) and Cyclin B1 were investigated by immunoblotting. The amount of cells positive for phosphorylated histone H3 was determined by flow cytometry. Temperatures > or =42.5 degrees C inhibited the induction of PCC by Cal, while recovery of PCC-induction was observed at >20 h after treatment in both cell lines. The phosphorylation status of Cdc2 as well as of histone H3 in cells treated with Cal directly after HT at 43 degrees C was similar to that of cells treated with Cal alone or treated with Cal 24 h after HT at 43 degrees C. HT alone did not affect the levels of phosphorylated Cdc2, while phosphorylation levels of histone H3 were increased as compared with control status of these two proteins. Phosphorylated and total Cyclin B1 levels were not influenced by any of the treatments. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that HT at 43 degrees C did not interfere with phosphorylation of histone H3. Our data indicate that HT transiently inhibits PCC induction by Cal in a temperature-dependent manner. Therefore, an interval of at least 24 h after HT should be applied before taking tumor biopsies for karyogram analysis of patients treated with temperatures above 42.5 degrees C.