Activated PI3K/Akt/COX-2 pathway induces resistance to radiation in human cervical cancer HeLa cells

Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2010 Jun;25(3):317-23. doi: 10.1089/cbr.2009.0707.

Abstract

Activation of Akt, or protein kinase B, is frequently observed in human cancers. It has been demonstrated that PI3K activation leads to radiation resistance. Here, the role of PI3K/Akt/COX-2 pathway in the resistance to radiation in human cervical cancer HeLa cells is explored. Cultured HeLa cells were randomly assigned to five treatment groups: control, radiation, LY294002, PI3K antagonist, and the COX-2-antagonist celecoxib, with the objective of determining the role of PI3K/Akt/COX-2 pathway in the radiation resistance of HeLa cells. The cell survival ratios were computed by clone formation. To calculate the quasi-threshold dose (Dq), mean lethal dose (D(0)), survival fraction at 2 Gy radiation dose (SF(2)), and radiosensitization ratio, the cell survival curves were fitted to the one-hit multitarget model. The protein expression profiles for pAkt, Akt, COX-2, Bad, and pBad were detected by Western blot analysis, and the mRNA expression profiles for COX-2 and Bad were analyzed by RT-polymerase chain reaction. Treatment with a combination of celecoxib, LY294002, and radiation resulted in elevated Dq, D(0), and SF(2), and increased radiosensitivity in HeLa cells. The PI3K/Akt/COX-2 pathway was activated by radiation, whereas celecoxib inhibited the activation of the PI3K/Akt/COX-2 axis through several targets. Our results indicate that the activated PI3K/Akt/COX-2 signal transduction pathway was the main cause for decline in radiosensitivity in HeLa cells. This study proposes that the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/COX-2 pathway can synergistically enhance radiation efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Celecoxib
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Chromones / pharmacology
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Expression / radiation effects
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / radiation effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Radiation Tolerance / drug effects
  • Radiation Tolerance / physiology*
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / radiation effects
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • X-Rays
  • bcl-Associated Death Protein / genetics
  • bcl-Associated Death Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • BAD protein, human
  • Chromones
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Morpholines
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • Sulfonamides
  • bcl-Associated Death Protein
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Celecoxib