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Knockdown of PKM2 Enhances Radiosensitivity of Non-small cell Lung Cancer

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Abstract

Pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2 (PKM2) is a key enzyme to regulate aerobic glycolysis in tumor cells and can be used as potential target for cancer therapy. Here, we investigated the effect of knockdown of PKM2 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) responses to ionizing radiation. Our results showed that PKM2 was greatly up-regulated in radioresistant cell lines and PKM2 knockdown leaded to increased radiosensitivity of radioresistant cell lines, which were associated with higher apoptosis rate and endoplasmic reticulum stress according to western blot analysis. Moreover, significant inhibition in tumor size under regular radiotherapy was found in Balb/c-nude mice bearing radioresistant NSCLC tumors with PKM2 knockdown. Our findings suggested that targeting PKM2 could effectively improve the efficacy of radiotherapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, No. 440 Ji Yan Road, Jinan, 250117, People’s Republic of China

    Shijiang Wang, Yan Ma, Xindong Sun, Huaqi Zhang & Jinming Yu

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China

    Peiguo Wang

  3. Department of Lymphoma, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China

    Zheng Song

  4. Department of Central Laboratory, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 324 Jing Wu Wei Qi Road, Jinan, 250021, People’s Republic of China

    Bin Liu

Authors
  1. Shijiang Wang
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  2. Yan Ma
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  3. Peiguo Wang
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  4. Zheng Song
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  5. Bin Liu
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  7. Huaqi Zhang
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  8. Jinming Yu
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Correspondence to Huaqi Zhang.

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Wang, S., Ma, Y., Wang, P. et al. Knockdown of PKM2 Enhances Radiosensitivity of Non-small cell Lung Cancer. Cell Biochem Biophys 73, 21–26 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-015-0567-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-015-0567-y

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