Melittin radiosensitizes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
with induction of apoptosis in vitro and in vivo
Tumour Biol, 2014 May 29
Currently, unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
(ESCC) is primarily treated by chemoradiotherapy. However, the outcome has not
improved significantly because of radioresistance of cancer cells. This study
aimed to determine the radiosensitizing effect of melittin, a novel component
of bee venom, in ESCC. ESCC cell lines were irradiated with or without
melittin. Cell proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit 8 assay. Radiosensitization
was evaluated by clonogenic survival assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow
cytometry.
Results show that melittin potently sensitized ESCC cells to
radiation with a sensitization enhancement ratio of 1.15-1.42.
Radiosensitization was accompanied with enhanced apoptosis and regulated by
apoptosis proteins. The results were confirmed by in vivo studies on
tumor-bearing xenografts. In summary, these results provide support that
melittin may be a potentially promising radiosensitizer in ESCC radiation
therapy.
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