Radio-sensitization of esophageal cancer EC9706 cells to X ray by histone deacetylase inhibiter Trichostatin A

Cell apoptosis and the expression of DNA damage repair-related genes XRCC2, ATM and Lig4 were detected separately by flow cytometry analysis and real-time fluorescence quantitative (RT-PCR), in order to investigate the effect of Trichostatin A(TSA)pre-treatment on the radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer EC9706 cells to X ray in vitro. The results indicate that pre-irradiation exposure to TSA enhances cell apoptotic rate by X ray markedly (P0.05) and the mRNA levels of XRCC2, ATM and Lig4(except 8Gy)are up-regulated by X ray individually(P0.05). TSA alone and TSA in combination with X ray all reduce mRNA levels of XRCC2, ATM and Lig4. In conclusions, TSA may radio-sensitize EC9706 cells to X ray by reducing mRNA levels of XRCC2, ATM and Lig4.