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Benzyl isothiocyanate sensitizes human pancreatic cancer cells to radiation by inducing apoptosis.

Abstract
Isothiocyanates are a class of naturally occurring chemopreventive agents known to suppress proliferation of cancer cells in culture. The present study was undertaken in order to examine the effects of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), one of the common dietary isothiocyanates, on the radiosensitivity of human pancreatic cancer cells and to gain insights into the underlying molecular mechanism of BITC-induced radiosensitization. Two human pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC-1 and MIAPaCa-2, were treated with BITC and irradiated with X-rays. Radiation sensitivity, apoptosis, and protein levels were determined by a clonogenic assay, fluorescence microscopic analysis with DAPI staining and Western blotting, respectively. MIAPaCa-2 cells were relatively more sensitive to BITC treatment compared with PANC-1 cells. Radiosensitization was observed in both PANC-1 and MIAPaCa-2 cells incubated with BITC at 5 to 10 µM and 2.5 to 5 µM for 24 h, respectively. The combination treatments with BITC and X-rays also revealed an increased percentage of apoptotic cells. In addition, treatment with BITC and X-rays resulted in a decrease in the protein levels of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family protein, and in a marked increase in the apoptosis protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), essential for activation of caspase-9 in stress-induced apoptosis. BITC may be a useful radiosensitizer for radiotherapy of pancreatic cancers.
AuthorsMaki Ohara, Shinichi Kimura, Aya Tanaka, Ken Ohnishi, Ryuichi Okayasu, Nobuo Kubota
JournalInternational journal of molecular medicine (Int J Mol Med) Vol. 28 Issue 6 Pg. 1043-7 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1791-244X [Electronic] Greece
PMID21833466 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • APAF1 protein, human
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1
  • Isothiocyanates
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
  • XIAP protein, human
  • benzyl isothiocyanate
  • Caspase 9
Topics
  • Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Apoptosis (drug effects, genetics, radiation effects)
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 (genetics, metabolism)
  • Blotting, Western
  • Caspase 9 (genetics, metabolism)
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Combined Modality Therapy (methods)
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
  • Humans
  • Isothiocyanates (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms (genetics, pathology, therapy)
  • Radiation Tolerance (drug effects, radiation effects)
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Up-Regulation
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (genetics, metabolism)
  • X-Rays

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