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Iodide sensitizes genetically modified non-small cell lung cancer cells to ionizing radiation

Cancer Gene Therapy volume 13, pages 74–81 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

While external ionizing radiation has been used for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), improved efficacy of this modality would be an important advance. Ectopic expression of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) and thyroperoxidase (TPO) genes in NSCLC cells facilitated concentration of iodide in NSCLC cells, which markedly induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Pre-incubation of the NIS/TPO-modified NSCLC cells in iodide followed by ionizing radiation generates bystander tumoricidal effects and potently enhances tumor cell killing. This iodide-induced bystander effect is associated with enhanced gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) activity and increased connexin-43 (Cx43) expression. Thus, iodide may serve as an enhancer to markedly improve the efficacy of radiation therapy in combined therapeutic modalities.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by The UCLA SPORE in Lung Cancer, National Institutes of Health P50 CA90388, R01 CA085686 (SMD), Medical Research Funds from the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program of the University of California.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, CA, USA

    L Zhang, S Sharma, S M Dubinett & M Huang

  2. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, CA, USA

    J M Hershman & G A Brent

  3. Lung Cancer Research Program of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, CA, USA

    S M Dubinett

  4. Department of Pathology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, CA, USA

    S M Dubinett & M Huang

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  1. L Zhang
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Correspondence to M Huang.

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Zhang, L., Sharma, S., Hershman, J. et al. Iodide sensitizes genetically modified non-small cell lung cancer cells to ionizing radiation. Cancer Gene Ther 13, 74–81 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cgt.7700875

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