miR-424 acts as a tumor radiosensitizer by targeting aprataxin in cervical cancer

Previous studies have shown that some dysregulated miRNAs are involved in radioresistance of tumor cells. Here, we identified significantly decreased miR-424 expression in radioresistant cervical cancer cells and specimens from cervical cancer patients with radioresistance compared to their radiosensitive parental cells and specimens from radiosensitive patients, respectively. Ectopic expression of miR-424 significantly increased radiation-induced DNA damage, cell apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in radioresistant cervical cancer cells. Notably, miR-424 agomiR treatment can sensitize radioresistant cervical cancer cells to radiation in a xenograft model. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-424 regulated radiosensitivity by directly targeting aprataxin. Taken together, these findings suggest that miR-424 acts as a radiosensitizing miRNA and reveal a new therapeutic strategy for radioresistant cervical cancers.