Time profile of nimotuzumab for enhancing radiosensitivity of the Eca109 cell line

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of Nimotuzumab to increase radiosensitivity at different delivery times in the mixed cancer cell line Eca109, to determine the optimal delivery time. Cultured Eca109 cells were classified into five groups: Control with no treatment (O group); irradiation without Nimotuzumab treatment (R group); treatment with Nimotuzumab 24 h prior to or after irradiation (24NR or 24RN group, respectively); and Nimotuzumab combined with irradiation simultaneously (NR group). Following cells reaching the logarithmic-growth phase, cell survival after exposure to Nimotuzumab was evaluated using an MTT assay; thereafter, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the cell line was calculated. Cell-survival curves were generated using a colony-forming assay. Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect apoptosis rates and cell-cycle distribution. The expression level of epidermal growth factor receptor was measured in Eca109 cells with western blotting. Growth inhibition was only observed 72 h after exposure to Nimotuzumab. The IC50 was 768 µg/ml. At a dose of 0.2 IC50 or 0.3 IC50, the sensitization enhancement ratio of radiosensitivity was highest in the 24NR group. Nimotuzumab enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis in Eca109 cells, with the optimal delivery time at 24 h prior to irradiation (P=0.035). The concentration of Nimotuzumab administered was directly proportional to the increase in radiosensitivity of the cells.