Radiation sensitization by dihydroartemisinin on human HeLa cells of cervical cancer

Objective To investigate the radiosensitizing effects of dihydroartemisinin(DHA)on human HeLa cells of cervical cancer irradiated by X rays.Methods Cell growth kinetics was determined using MTF assay.Cell survival was analyzed by elonogenic assay.The change of cell cycle and apeptosis was measured by flow cytometry.Results Dihydroartemisinin inhibited the growth of HeLa cells of human cervical cancer and showed a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner.Dihydroartemisinin(20 μmol/L)showed the radiosensitizing effects on HeLa cells,and the sensitizing enhancement ratio(SER)was 1.47.Dihydroartemisinin abrogated radiation-induced G2 arrest of the tested HeLa cells,the G2 ratio of medicine + radiation group dechned from 73.58% to 48.31%.Dihydroartemisinin enhanced the apoptosis of HeLa cells by X-irradiation,the apoptosis rates of medicine + radiation group significantly increased from 29.46%,48.04%,70.21% to 45.79%,66.36% and 79.58%,respectively for 2,4 and 6 Gy.Conclusions Dihydroartemisinin could increase the radiesensitivity of HeLa cells of human cervical cancer.Abrogation of radiation-induced C2 arrest could be part of the mechanism. Key words: Dihydroartemisinin; Human cervical cancer cells; Radiosensitizing effect; Cell cycle; Apoptosis