IGF-1R Inhibition Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Increases Radiosensitivity in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells

Mediators Inflamm. 2019 Jul 31:2019:5497467. doi: 10.1155/2019/5497467. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Although ionizing radiation (IR) has provided considerable improvements in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment, radioresistance is still a major threat for some subsets of patients. The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling pathway is tightly regulated and plays critical roles in mediating cell proliferation, growth, and survival. Thus, IGF-1R may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with different malignancies. However, its mechanism in NPC is not fully investigated. Linsitinib is an oral small molecule and is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of IGF-1R, which has been known for antitumor effects used widely. Here, we evaluated the proliferation and radiosensitivity of NPC cell lines (CNE-2 and SUNE-1) after linsitinib treatment. We found that linsitinib suppresses IGF-1-induced cell proliferation through inhibiting Akt and ERK phosphorylation. Moreover, linsitinib further boosted IR-induced DNA damage, G2-M cell cycle delay, and apoptosis in NPC cells. Finally, linsitinib reversed radioresistant NPC cells by decreasing the phosphorylation of IGF-1R. Our data indicated that the combination of linsitinib and IR and targeting IGF-1R by linsitinib could be a promising therapeutic strategy for NPC.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / radiation effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / radiation effects
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • DNA Damage / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / radiation effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Pyrazines / pharmacology
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • 3-(8-amino-1-(2-phenylquinolin-7-yl)imidazo(1,5-a)pyrazin-3-yl)-1-methylcyclobutanol
  • Imidazoles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazines
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1