title: β-elemene enhances both radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity of glioblastoma cells through the inhibition of the ATM signaling pathway.
abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a tumor associated with poor prognosis, is known to be resistant to radiotherapy and alkylating agents such as temozolomide (TMZ). β-elemene, a monomer found in Chinese traditional herbs extracted from Curcuma wenyujin, is currently being used as an antitumor drug for different types of tumors including GBM. In the present study, we investigated the roles of β-elemene in the radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity of GBM cells. Human GBM cell lines U87-MG, T98G, U251, LN229 and rat C6 cells were treated with β-elemene combined with radiation or TMZ. We used MTT and colony forming assays to evaluate the proliferation and survival of the cells, and the comet assay to observe DNA damage. Expression of proteins was analyzed by immunoblotting. In the present study, we found that β-elemene inhibited the proliferation and survival of different GBM cell lines when combined with radiotherapy or TMZ via inhibition of DNA damage repair. Treatment of GBM cells with β-elemene decreased the phosphorylation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), AKT and ERK following radiotherapy or chemotherapy. These results revealed that β-elemene could significantly increase the radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity of GBM. β-elemene may be used as a potential drug in combination with the radiotherapy and chemotherapy of GBM.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University Cancer Center; The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University Cancer Center, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Siwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University Cancer Center; The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University Cancer Center, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongshun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University Cancer Center; The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University Cancer Center, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C445979:beta-elemene; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide