We exposed p53?/? and p53+/+ HCT116 cells to increasing activities of internalizing (cytoplasmic location) anti-HER1 125I-mAbs, or non-internalizing (cell surface location) anti-CEA 125I-mAbs. For each targeting model we established the relationship between survival and mean nucleus absorbed dose using the MIRD formalism.
In both p53?/? and p53+/+ HCT116 cells, anti-CEA 125I-mAbs were more cytotoxic per Gy than anti-HER1 125I-mAbs. Sensitivity to anti-CEA 125I-mAbs was p53-independent, while sensitivity to anti-HER1 125I-mAbs was higher in p53?/? HCT 116 cells, suggesting that they act through different signaling pathways. Apoptosis was only induced in p53+/+ HCT116 cells and could not explain cell membrane radiation sensitivity. Inhibition of autophagy did not modify the cell response to 125I-mAbs. By contrast, mitotic death was similarly induced in both p53?/? and p53+/+ HCT116 cells by the two types of 125I-mAbs. We also showed using medium transfer experiments that ¦Ã-H2AX foci were produced in bystander cells.
Cell membrane sensitivity to 125I-mAbs is not mediated by apoptosis and is p53-independent. Bystander effects-mediated mitotic death could be involved in the efficacy of 125I-mAbs binding cell surface receptors.