The
purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of gold nanoparticles as
radiosensitizer for use in neutron therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma. The hepatocellular carcinoma cells lines Huh7 and
HepG2 were irradiated with γ and neutron radiation in the presence or absence
of gold nanoparticles. Effects were evaluated by transmission electron
microscopy, cell survival, cell cycle, DNA damage, migration, and invasiveness. Gold nanoparticles significantly enhanced the
radiosensitivity of Huh7 and HepG2 cells to γ-rays by 1.41- and 1.16-fold,
respectively, and by 1.80- and 1.35-fold to neutron radiation, which has high
linear energy transfer. Accordingly, exposure to neutron radiation in the
presence of gold nanoparticles induced cell cycle arrest, DNA damage, and cell
death to a significantly higher extent, and suppressed cell migration and invasiveness
more robustly. These effects are presumably due to the ability of gold
nanoparticles to amplify the effective dose from neutron radiation more
efficiently. The data suggest that gold nanoparticles may be
clinically useful in combination therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma by
enhancing the toxicity of radiation with high linear energy transfer.
Eun Ho Kim1, Mi-Sook Kim2, Hyo Sook Song3, Seung Hoon Yoo1, Sei Sai4, Kwangzoo
Chung5, Jiwon Sung3, Youn Kyoung Jeong6, YunHui Jo3 and Myonggeun Yoon3
1.Division of Heavy Ion Clinical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
2.Department of Radiation Oncology, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
3.Department of Bio-convergence Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
4.Department of Basic Medical Sciences for Radiation Damages, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan
5.Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
6.Research Center for Radiotherapy, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
Oncotarget, 2017, Vol. 8, (No. 68)