Cerium oxide nanoparticles sensitize non-small lung cancer cell to ionizing radiation

Radiotherapy is an important strategy for cancer treatment, but resistance of tumor cells to ionizing radiation (IR) still remains a main challenging issue related to radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitizing effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) on non-small lung cancer (A-549) cells exposure to IR. A-549 cells were treated with CNPs and exposed to IR at dose 2 Gy. The radiosensitizing effect of CNPs was evaluated by clonogenic assay and flowcytometry. The findings of this study showed that CNPs reduced the frequencies of A-549 colony when these cells were exposed to IR. CNPs treatment prior exposure to IR significantly increased the IR-induced apoptotic incidences in A-549 cells. The present study demonstrates that CNPs to be an effective sensitizer on apoptosis and cell death induced by IR in A-549 cells.