Dominant negative Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C sensitizes cervical cancer cells to radiation

Abstract

Purpose: To find the radiation sensitivity of human cervical carcinoma cell lines and to investigate the effect of the dominant negative-Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (DN-UBE2C) on cell proliferation and radiation response.Materials and methods: Radiation sensitivities of human cervical cell lines (SiHa, HeLa, BU25TK, ME 180, and C33A) were analyzed by assessing their cell survival after irradiation by MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay. Soft agar cloning assay, growth curve and radiation response of DN-UBE2C stably transfected SiHa and HeLa cell lines were assessed by MTS assay and Clonogenic assay.Results: Difference in sensitivity to radiation was observed among the cervical cancer cell lines studied. SiHa was found to be the most resistant cell line whereas C33A cells were the most sensitive. The growth rate of SiHa and HeLa transfected with DN-UBE2C was significantly reduced compared to vector control. Furthermore, DN-UBE2C-mediated radiosensitivity was correlated with a significant decrease in resistance to radiation by SiHa and HeLa cells after transfection with the DN-UBE2C when compared to control cultures.Conclusion: These results suggested that the Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) gene is a potential therapeutic target for cervical cancer treatment.