Metformin Radiosensitizes p53-Deficient Colorectal Cancer Cells through Induction of G2/M Arrest and Inhibition of DNA Repair Proteins

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 23;10(11):e0143596. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143596. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The present study addressed whether the combination of metformin and ionizing radiation (IR) would show enhanced antitumor effects in radioresistant p53-deficient colorectal cancer cells, focusing on repair pathways for IR-induced DNA damage. Metformin caused a higher reduction in clonogenic survival as well as greater radiosensitization and inhibition of tumor growth of p53-/- than of p53+/+ colorectal cancer cells and xenografts. Metformin combined with IR induced accumulation of tumor cells in the G2/M phase and delayed the repair of IR-induced DNA damage. In addition, this combination significantly decreased levels of p53-related homologous recombination (HR) repair compared with IR alone, especially in p53-/- colorectal cancer cells and tumors. In conclusion, metformin enhanced radiosensitivity by inducing G2/M arrest and reducing the expression of DNA repair proteins even in radioresistant HCT116 p53-/- colorectal cancer cells and tumors. Our study provides a scientific rationale for the clinical use of metformin as a radiosensitizer in patients with p53-deficient colorectal tumors, which are often resistant to radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • G2 Phase / drug effects
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Metformin / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Radiation Tolerance*
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / chemistry
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics*

Substances

  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Metformin

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the following: 1. MSK: grant (50541-2014) from the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Republic of Korea (http://www.msip.go.kr); and 2. HH: National Research Foundation grants (2012R1A2A1A0300692) funded by Korean Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. (http://www.nrf.re.kr).