Inhibition of both EGFR and IGF1R sensitized prostate cancer cells to radiation by synergistic suppression of DNA homologous recombination repair

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 12;8(8):e68784. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068784. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Reduced sensitivity of prostate cancer (PC) cells to radiation therapy poses a significant challenge in the clinic. Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R), and crosstalk between these two signaling pathways have been implicated in the development of radiation resistance in PC. This study assessed the effects of targeting both receptors on the regulation of radio-sensitivity in PC cells. Specific inhibitors of EGFR and IGF1R, Erlotinib and AG1024, as well as siRNA targeting EGFR and IGF1R, were used to radio-sensitize PC cells. Our results showed that co-inhibiting both receptors significantly dampened cellular growth and DNA damage repair, and increased radio-sensitivity in PC cells. These effects were carried out through synergistic inhibition of homologous recombination-directed DNA repair (HRR), but not via inhibition of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Furthermore, the compromised HRR capacity was caused by reduced phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and its subsequent interaction with Rad51. The synergistic effect of the EGFR and IGF1R inhibitors was also confirmed in nude mouse xenograft assay. This is the first study testing co-inhibiting EGFR and IGF1R signaling in the context of radio-sensitivity in PC and it may provide a promising adjuvant therapeutic approach to improve the outcome of PC patients to radiation treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • DNA End-Joining Repair
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Rad51 Recombinase / metabolism
  • Radiation Tolerance* / drug effects
  • Radiation Tolerance* / genetics
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / genetics
  • Recombinational DNA Repair* / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tyrphostins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • Tyrphostins
  • tyrphostin AG 1024
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Rad51 Recombinase

Grants and funding

Funded by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30100185, No. 81250036, No. 30973000, No. 30872583, No. 81072116) and the Natural Science Foundation of Shaan'xi Province (2009JQ4003). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.