Synergistic effects of arsenic trioxide and radiation in osteosarcoma cells through the induction of both autophagy and apoptosis

Hui Wen Chiu, Wei Lin, Sheng Yow Ho, Ying Jan Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, occurring mainly in children and adolescents, and survival largely depends on their response to chemotherapy. However, the risk of relapse and adverse outcomes is still high. We investigated the synergistic anti-cancer effects of ionizing radiation combined with arsenic trioxide (ATO) and the mechanisms underlying apoptosis or autophagy induced by combined radiation and ATO treatment in human osteosarcoma cells. We found that exposure to radiation increased the population of HOS cells in the G2/M phase within 12 h in a time-dependent manner. Radiation combined with ATO induced a significantly prolonged G2/M arrest, consequently enhancing cell death. Furthermore, combined treatment resulted in enhanced ROS generation compared to treatment with ATO or radiation alone. The enhanced cytotoxic effect of combined treatment occurred from the increased induction of autophagy and apoptosis through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in HOS cells. The combined treatment of HOS cells pretreated with Z-VAD, 3-MA or PEG-catalase resulted in a significant reduction of cytotoxicity. In addition, G2/M arrest and ROS generation could be involved in the underlying mechanisms. The data suggest that a combination of radiation and ATO could be a new potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)547-560
Number of pages14
JournalRadiation Research
Volume175
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Biophysics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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