BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy is utilized for treatment of localized prostate cancer. Nevertheless, cancerous cells frequently develop radiation resistance. While higher radiation doses have not always been effective, radiosensitizers have been extensively studied for their ability to enhance the cytotoxic effects of radiation. So, this study aims to evaluate the possible radiosensitization effects of docetaxel (DTX) and silver nanoparticles (SNP) in LNCaP cells. METHODS: The cytotoxic effects of DTX, SNP and 2 Gy of X-Ray radiation treatments were assessed in human LNCaP cell line using the MTT test after 24 h. Moreover, the effects of DTX, SNP and radiation on Epidermal growth factor (EGF), Caspase 3, inducible nitric oxide synthase and E-cadherin gene expression were analyzed using the Real-time PCR method. The level of Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an oxidative stress marker, was also detected 24 h after various single and combined treatments. RESULTS: The combinations of SNP (in low toxic concentration) and/or DTX (0.25× IC50 and 0.5 × IC50 concentrations for triple and double combinations respectively) with radiation induced significant cytotoxicity in LNCaP cells in comparison to monotherapies. These cytotoxic effects were associated with the downregulation of EGF mRNA. Additionally, H2O2 levels increased after Radiation + SNP + DTX triple combination and double combinations including Radiation + SNP and Radiation + DTX versus single treatments. The triple combination treatment also increased Caspase 3 and and E-cadherin mRNA levels in compared to single treatments in LNCaP cells. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the combination of SNP and DTX with radiation induces significant anti-cancer effects. Upregulation of Caspase 3 and E-cadherin gene expression, and decreased mRNA expression level of EGF may be exerted specifically by use of this combination versus single treatments.
Docetaxel , Metal Nanoparticles , Prostatic Neoplasms , Radiation-Sensitizing Agents , Silver , Humans , Docetaxel/pharmacology , Male , Silver/pharmacology , Prostatic Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Radiation-Sensitizing Agents/pharmacology , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/radiation effects , Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cell Survival/radiation effects , Caspase 3/metabolism , Caspase 3/genetics , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Epidermal Growth Factor/metabolism , Epidermal Growth Factor/pharmacology , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/radiation effects , Apoptosis/drug effects , Apoptosis/radiation effects , Cadherins/metabolism , Cadherins/genetics
Purpose: Radiotherapy is one of the most important therapeutic options used to treat cancers. Radiation effects can be improved using nanoparticles and chemotherapeutic drugs as radiosensitizing agents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of folic acid-conjugated gold nanoparticles (GNP-F) in combination with doxorubicin (DOX) and x-Ray irradiation in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line (HT-29). Methods: The cell viability assay (WST-1) was performed to study the cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of DOX and GNP-F after 24 and 48 hours treatments. Then, the effects of the GNP-F, X-Ray irradiation, and DOX drug in single and combined treatments were examined after 24 and 48 hours treatment with effective doses. Likewise, the caspase 3 gene expression ratio and the caspase 3 activity were assessed after 48 h treatment. Moreover, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was determined in treated and untreated cells. Results: When GNP-F (at a concentration of 70 µM) was combined with X-ray irradiation (2 Gy) and DOX drug, induced more cytotoxic effects compared to the control group. The results of cell viability assay showed that GNP-F + X-Ray in combination with a low concentration of DOX (0.25 × IC50) enhanced the cytotoxic effects of cells compared to related single treatments. Caspase 3 gene expression ratio and caspase 3 activity increased in double and triple combination treatments in comparison with the single groups. Moreover, the MDA level increased in triple combination compared to the single treatments. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the potential anti-cancer effects of the GNP-F and DOX in combination with X-Ray irradiation in CRC cells.
