Nimotuzumab and cetuximab enhanced radiation effects on human esophageal carcinoma cells

Abstract

Objective To observe the combination effects of radiation and nimotuzumab (h-R3)or cetuximab (C225) on human esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line TE-13.Methods TE-13 cells were divided into 6 groups,including no treatment control,h-R3,C225,irradiation,h-R3 combined with irradiation,and C225 combined with irradiation.For each group,cell proliferation was evaluated by MTS assay,cell radiosensitivity was determined by clonogenic assay and the survival curve was fitted with the multi-targets single-hit model,and cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed with flow cytometry assay.Results Compared with the irradiation group,after the combination treatment of mAbs and irradiation,the cell proliferation,the cell proliferations were obviously decreased (F=325.59,P＜0.05),SF2,Do,Dq,and N values were obviously decreased,the cell apoptosis rates were significantly increased (F =120.59,P ＜ 0.05),and the percentages of cells in G0/G1 and G2/M phases were increased.The cell apoptosis rate of the C225 combined with irradiation group was higher than that of the h-R3 combined with irradiation group (F =120.59,P ＜ 0.05).The radiosensitization enhancement ratio (SER) of C225 was 1.83,higher than that of h-R3.Conclusions Both h-R3 and C225 can significantly enhance radiation damage of TE-13 cells and C225 is more effective than h-R3. Key words: Epidermal growth factor receptor; Nimotuzumab; Cetuximab; Esophageal carcinoma ; Irradiation