Inhibiting glucosylceramide synthase facilitates the radiosensitizing effects of vinorelbine in lung adenocarcinoma cells

Wei Hsin Chiu, Helen Hai Wen Chen, Jang Yang Chang, Sheng Jie Luo, Chia Ling Li, Chia Ling Chen, Wu Chou Su, Chiou Feng Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The standard treatment regimen for patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with locally advanced stage III disease is concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). This study investigated the molecular effects of vinca alkaloid vinorelbine (VNR)-based CCRT. We reviewed the records of 68 patients with stage III NSCLC: 42 patients received VNR-based CCRT, and 26 were treated with radiation alone. Human lung adenocarcinoma cells were used in this study to investigate the molecular effects of glucosylceramide synthase inhibition on VNR-based CCRT. There was response rate of 66.7% with CCRT, which was better than the response rate observed with radiation alone (30.8%; P<0.001). CCRT caused an increase in cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase accompanied by apoptosis. Oxidative c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation was involved in the increased apoptosis levels but not the cell cycle arrest. CCRT also induced an increase in ceramide accompanied by a decrease in glucosylceramide that was positively correlated with the cytotoxic effects. Pharmacologically inhibiting glucosylceramide synthase facilitated VNR- and CCRT-induced apoptosis by promoting the JNK pathway. Inhibiting glucosylceramide synthase facilitates the radiosensitizing effects of VNR by promoting JNK-mediated apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)144-151
Number of pages8
JournalCancer Letters
Volume349
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Jul 28

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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