title: Sensitizing effect of 3-methyladenine on radiation-induced cytotoxicity in radio-resistant HepG2 cells in vitro and in tumor xenografts.
abstract: Many recent efforts have focused on targeting cell death pathways for discovering new cancer therapies. The relative resistance of liver cancer cells to ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapeutic agents due to autophagic response limits the available treatment options for this type of cancer. In this study, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, was investigated for its potential to enhance radio-sensitivity under radio-resistant conditions both in vitro and in vivo. Hep3B and HepG2 cells were used to examine the radio-resistance of liver cancer cells. The results show that Hep3B cells respond to irradiation with increased apoptotic cell death and that HepG2 is radio-resistant due to the IR-induced autophagy, as verified by DNA fragmentation, electron microscopy, acidic vesicular organelle formation, and Western blot analysis. Application of IR with 3-MA to inhibit autophagy simultaneously suppressed the expression of LC3 and enhanced cell death. The tumor xenograft model in nude mice verified the synergistic cytotoxic effect of 3-MA and IR, which resulted in significant repression of tumor growth. The results demonstrate that IR-induced autophagy provides a self-protective mechanism against radiotherapy in HepG2 cells. In addition, 3-MA enhances the cytotoxicity of IR in cell models and suppresses tumor growth in animal models. Based on the results, application of 3-MA, or other autophagy inhibitors, could be used as an adjuvant for radiotherapy when radio-resistance develops as a result of autophagy response.
authors: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road, Taichung City, Taiwan. rad.tseng@msa.hinet.net
authors: Hsien-Chun
authors: HC
authors: Tseng
authors: Wen-Shan
authors: WS
authors: Liu
authors: Yeu-Sheng
authors: YS
authors: Tyan
authors: Huei-Ching
authors: HC
authors: Chiang
authors: Wu-Hsien
authors: WH
authors: Kuo
authors: Fen-Pi
authors: FP
authors: Chou
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; C025946:3-methyladenine; D000225:Adenine