20(s)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) increases the radiotherapy sensitivity of laryngeal carcinoma

Food Funct. 2017 Dec 13;8(12):4469-4477. doi: 10.1039/c7fo00853h.

Abstract

Laryngeal carcinoma (LC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors in the head and neck area. Due to its high morbidity and mortality, LC poses a serious threat to human life and health. Even with surgical removal, some patients were not sensitive to radiotherapy or experienced transfer or recurrence. 20(s)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a natural product from Panax ginseng, has been reported to have cytotoxic effects against several cancer cell lines. However, whether it can improve the radiation sensitivity and the underlying mechanism of PPD's sensitization effect is still unknown. Herein, from in vitro and in vivo experiments, we found that the combination of PPD and radiation not only significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis, but also suppressed the tumor growth in mouse models. These findings confirmed the role of PPD in enhancing the sensitivity of radiotherapy. Moreover, our work showed that the expression levels of mTOR and its downstream effectors decreased remarkably after PPD addition when compared to radiation only. This result suggested that PPD's excellent synergistic effects with radiation might be associated with the down-regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway in Hep-2 cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / physiopathology
  • Carcinoma / radiotherapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / radiation effects
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Panax / chemistry
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Sapogenins / administration & dosage*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • Sapogenins
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • protopanaxadiol