Down-regulation of XIAP enhances the radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells in vivo and in vitro

The study investigated the effects of X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) gene silencing on the radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer (EC) cells. Western blotting was used to select EC cell lines with XIAP overexpression. Selected EC9706 and KYSE30 cell lines were both divided into four groups: the blank control group, the negative control (NC) group (transfected with pBSHH1), the siRNA-enhanced group (transfected with pBSHH1-XIAP1-siRNA), and the siRNA-decreased group (transfected with pBSHH1-XIAP2-siRNA). Expressions of XIAP were measured by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting, cell survival and viability by MTT assay and colony formation assay, and cell apoptosis by flow cytometry, respectively. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity were detected using caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity detection kits. A nude mice model of EC9706 cell line was established to measure tumorigenesis ability. Compared with the NC group, XIAP mRNA and protein expressions were decreased, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity and apoptosis were up-regulated, and cell survival rate and colony-forming efficiency were lower in the siRNA-enhanced and siRNA-decreased groups in both the cell lines; while the opposite trends were found in the siRNA-decreased group compared with the siRNA-enhanced group. Tumor weight and volume of nude mice were decreased in the siRNA-enhanced and siRNA-decreased groups than those in the NC group, and were elevated in the siRNA-decreased group compared with the siRNA-enhanced group. These results indicate that XIAP gene silencing would strengthen the radiosensitivity of EC9706 cells, which provides a novel target for the treatment of EC.