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

  • Authors:
    • Maki Ohara
    • Shinichi Kimura
    • Aya Tanaka
    • Ken Ohnishi
    • Ryuichi Okayasu
    • Nobuo Kubota
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 10, 2011     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.770
  • Pages: 1043-1047
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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.

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December 2011
Volume 28 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Ohara M, Kimura S, Tanaka A, Ohnishi K, Okayasu R and Kubota N: Benzyl isothiocyanate sensitizes human pancreatic cancer cells to radiation by inducing apoptosis. Int J Mol Med 28: 1043-1047, 2011.
APA
Ohara, M., Kimura, S., Tanaka, A., Ohnishi, K., Okayasu, R., & Kubota, N. (2011). Benzyl isothiocyanate sensitizes human pancreatic cancer cells to radiation by inducing apoptosis. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 28, 1043-1047. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.770
MLA
Ohara, M., Kimura, S., Tanaka, A., Ohnishi, K., Okayasu, R., Kubota, N."Benzyl isothiocyanate sensitizes human pancreatic cancer cells to radiation by inducing apoptosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 28.6 (2011): 1043-1047.
Chicago
Ohara, M., Kimura, S., Tanaka, A., Ohnishi, K., Okayasu, R., Kubota, N."Benzyl isothiocyanate sensitizes human pancreatic cancer cells to radiation by inducing apoptosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 28, no. 6 (2011): 1043-1047. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.770