Synergistic Effect of Phloretin Combined With Radiotherapy on Lung Cancer

Purpose/Objective(s) The purpose of this study was to investigate the synergistic anti-tumor effects of phloretin and radiotherapy (RT) in a Lewis lung cancer (LLC) xenograft model, and the mechanisms involved. Materials/Methods Lewis cells were treated with 0, 25, 50, 100, 150 or 200 μg/ml phloretin, the proliferative rate of Lewis cells treated with phloretin for 12, 24 and 32 h was detected by MTT assay; Clone formation experiments were used to demonstrate the synergistic effect of phloretin and radiotherapy; Mice engrafted with the LLC cells were given intraperitoneal injections of saline, phloretin with or without RT. Tumor models were established by laterally transplanting LLC cells in the right thigh of C57BL/J mice. They were randomly divided into four groups, 12 in each group, namely saline group, phloretin group, radiotherapy group, phloretin combined with radiotherapy group. 10 Gy radiotherapy was performed during the administration; some mice were detected by PET-CT, tumor tissues were subjected to immunohistochemistry, flow apoptosis was detected, and some mice were observed for survival. Results Different concentrations of phloretin inhibited the proliferation of Lewis cells in a time and dose dependent manner (P Conclusion Phloretin combined with radiotherapy has a synergistic anti-tumor effect, possibly by promoting apoptosis, as well as inhibiting proliferation rate and glucose transport.