Improved sensitization effect of sunitinib in cancer cells of the esophagus under hypoxic microenviroment

  • Authors:
    • Yu‑Qiong Ding
    • Qin Qin
    • Yan Yang
    • Xin‑Chen Sun
    • Xi Yang
    • Hong‑Cheng Zhu
    • Xiao‑Chen Chen
    • Hao Zhang
    • Yue‑Hua Yang
    • Lei Gao
    • Ju‑Dong Luo
    • Xi‑Fa Zhou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 13, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5247
  • Pages: 4671-4676
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Radiotherapy is widely used in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treatment. Promoting the radiation sensitivity of cancer cells is required. Recent studies have shown that sunitinib can inhibit the growth of several cancer lines. However, few studies on the radiosensitive effect of sunitinib on ESCC cells under hypoxic conditions have been conducted. In the present study, the radiosensitive effects of sunitinib on human ESCC cells were assessed, and the underlying mechanisms were explored. ESCC cells were exposed to hypoxia and treated with sunitinib at different concentrations prior to irradiation. Sunitinib potently inhibited ESCC cell proliferation in an MTT assay. In a clonogenic survival assay, sunitinib sensitized hypoxic ESCC cells to radiation, with sensitizing enhancement ratios of 1.31‑1.59. In addition, sunitinib promoted the apoptosis of ESCC cells, but did not alter their cell cycle distribution. Radiosensitization was accompanied by inhibition of the radiation‑induced upregulation of hypoxia‑inducible factor (HIF)‑1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Thus, sunitinib confers radiosensitivity to esophageal cancer cells, which is associated with the downregulation of HIF‑1α and VEGF expression. Sunitinib can be a promising radiosensitizer for esophageal cancer radiotherapy.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

December-2016
Volume 12 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Ding YQ, Qin Q, Yang Y, Sun XC, Yang X, Zhu HC, Chen XC, Zhang H, Yang YH, Gao L, Gao L, et al: Improved sensitization effect of sunitinib in cancer cells of the esophagus under hypoxic microenviroment. Oncol Lett 12: 4671-4676, 2016
APA
Ding, Y., Qin, Q., Yang, Y., Sun, X., Yang, X., Zhu, H. ... Zhou, X. (2016). Improved sensitization effect of sunitinib in cancer cells of the esophagus under hypoxic microenviroment. Oncology Letters, 12, 4671-4676. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5247
MLA
Ding, Y., Qin, Q., Yang, Y., Sun, X., Yang, X., Zhu, H., Chen, X., Zhang, H., Yang, Y., Gao, L., Luo, J., Zhou, X."Improved sensitization effect of sunitinib in cancer cells of the esophagus under hypoxic microenviroment". Oncology Letters 12.6 (2016): 4671-4676.
Chicago
Ding, Y., Qin, Q., Yang, Y., Sun, X., Yang, X., Zhu, H., Chen, X., Zhang, H., Yang, Y., Gao, L., Luo, J., Zhou, X."Improved sensitization effect of sunitinib in cancer cells of the esophagus under hypoxic microenviroment". Oncology Letters 12, no. 6 (2016): 4671-4676. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5247