Radiosensitization effect of quinoline-indole-schiff base derivative 10E on non-small cell lung cancer cells in vitro and in tumor xenografts.

Radioresistance is an inevitable obstacle in the clinical treatment of inoperable patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Combining treatment with radiosensitizers may improve the efficacy of radiotherapy. Previously, the quinoline derivative 10E as new exporter of Nur77 has shown superior antitumor activity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing activity and acting mechanisms of 10E. In vitro, A549 and H460 cells were treated with control, ionizing radiation (IR), 10E, and 10E + IR. Cell viability, apoptosis, and cycle were examined using CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays. Protein expression and localization were examined using western blotting and immunofluorescence. Tumor xenograft models were established to evaluate the radiosensitizing effect of 10E in vivo. 10E significantly inhibited cell proliferation and increased their radiosensitivity while reducing level of p-BCRA1, p-DNA-PKs, and 53BP1 involved in the DNA damage repair pathway, indicating that its radiosensitizing activity is closely associated with repressing DNA damage repair. A549 cells showed low level of Nur77 and a low response to IR but 10E-treated A549 cells showed high level of Nur77 indicating that Nur77 is a core radiosensitivity factor and 10E restores the expression of Nur77. Nur77 and Ku80 extranuclear co-localization in the 10E-treated A549 cells suggested that 10E-modulated Nur77 nuclear exportation inhibits DNA damage repair pathways and increases IR-triggered apoptosis. The combination of 10E and IR significantly inhibits tumor growth in a tumor xenograft model. Our findings suggest that 10E acts as a radiosensitizer and that combining 10E with radiotherapy may be a potential strategy for NSCLC treatment.