Ginsenoside Rg3 Sensitizes Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells to Radiation by Suppressing Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract

Radioresistance restrains the therapeutic effect of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), an active pharmaceutical component extracted from ginseng, shows antitumor effects in various cancers. In this study, we aimed to determine whether Rg3 sensitized NPC cells to radiation and to explore the possible mechanisms. Our results revealed that Rg3 increased radiosensitivity in both HNE1 and CNE2 cell lines. Radiation-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in NPC cells and Rg3 blocked this effect. In addition, Rg3 attenuated radiation-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) nuclear transport and DNA-dependent protein kinase expression. What's more, Rg3 significantly accelerated the apoptosis rates in irradiated NPC cells. In summary, our data suggested that Rg3 sensitized NPC cells to radiation and suppressed radiation-induced EMT. This effect is mediated through restrained EGFR nuclear translocation and increased cell apoptosis. Thus, Rg3 may be a potential radiation sensitizing agent for NPC.

Unveiling the experimental proof of the anticancer potential of ginsenoside Rg3 (Review)

“…GS-Rg3 can also increase the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine by decreasing ZFP91-mediated TSPY like 2 instability ( 44 ). Moreover, GS-Rg3 can enhance the radiosensitivity of cancer cells in different tumor types, such as lung, breast and nasopharyngeal cancer ( 45 – 47 ). Additionally, GS-Rg3 combined with artemisinin can inhibit STAT3 signal transduction in hepatocellular carcinoma cancer cells, synergistically reduce the viability of cells, induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma ( 48 ).…”

Integrating Chinese medicine into mainstream cancer therapies: a promising future

“…explored the sensitizing therapeutic effect of GRg3 combined with radiotherapy. The results showed that GRg3 could block radiotherapy-induced EMT, reduce the nuclear translocation of EGFR and the expression of DNA-dependent protein kinases, significantly promote the apoptosis of HNE1 and CNE2 cells; thus, GRg3 could be further promoted as a potential radiotherapy sensitizer ( 22 ). In lung cancer cells, GRg3 and GRg5 also have radiosensitizing effects.…”