Radiosensitizing Effect of Honokiol on Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma Cells

The radiosensitizing effect of Honokiol (HNK) on non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines A549 and H1299 to low-linear energy transfer (LET) X-rays and high-LET carbon ions was investigated in this study. First, the inhibitory effects of HNK on the growth of A549 and H1299 cells were detected by CCK-8 assay, and 20 μmol/L HNK treatment was found to induce a growth inhibitory effect slightly in these two cell lines. Cells were pre-treated with HNK and then irradiated with X-rays and carbon ions of different doses. Cellular radiosensitivity, apoptosis and DNA damage were analyzed by clonogenic survival, Annexin-PI staining and γH2AX foci, respectively. The results showed the cells were more sensitive to carbon ion irradiation compared to X-rays and the radiosensitization of HNK was only observed after carbon ion irradiation. Furthermore, the co-treatment led to higher apoptosis rate 48 h after irradiation and increased the positive rate of γH2AX foci 24 h after irradiation in A549 and H1299 cells compared with those in the groups treated with carbon ion irradiation alone. These phenomena were not observed after X-ray irradiation. Our data suggest that the pre-treatment with HNK inhibited DNA DSB repair, induced apoptosis and then enhanced the cellular radiosensitivity to carbon ions in NSCLC cells.