title: Huachansu, containing cardiac glycosides, enhances radiosensitivity of human lung cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess radiosensitzing potential of huachansu (HCS) and delineate the underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lung cancer cell lines were exposed to HCS, radiation or both and subjected to survival assays, Western blots, apoptosis assay and immunocytochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCS suppressed the viability of all three lung lines tested and enhanced radiosensitivity of H460 and A549 (wild-type p53) only with no effect on H1299 (p53 null) cells. HCS prolonged the presence of radiation-induced γH2AX foci and increased radiation-induced apoptosis. Western blots showed that HCS increased cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) levels, as well as reducing BCL-2 and p53 protein levels in H460 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCS-enhanced radiosensitivity of human lung cancer lines appeared to be p53-dependent. Inhibition of DNA repair and increase in radiation-induced apoptosis may have served as underlying mechanisms. These data suggest that HCS may have potential to improve the efficacy of radiotherapy.
authors: Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Unit 97, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Uma
authors: U
authors: Raju
authors: Luka
authors: L
authors: Milas
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Molkentine
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Peiying
authors: P
authors: Yang
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Cohen
authors: Zhiqiang
authors: Z
authors: Meng
authors: Zhongxing
authors: Z
authors: Liao
mesh_terms: D000664:Amphibian Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002301:Cardiac Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004249:DNA Damage; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000528:radiation effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006657:Histones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000664:Amphibian Venoms; D002301:Cardiac Glycosides; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; C545813:huachansu