Silencing hTERT attenuates cancer stem cell-like characteristics and radioresistance in the radioresistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2R.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the effect of silencing hTERT on the CSC-like characteristics and radioresistance of CNE-2R cells.

RESULTS

Silencing hTERT suppressed CNE-2R cell proliferation and increased the cell apoptosis rate and radiosensitivity . Moreover, it could also inhibit the growth of xenografts and increase the apoptosis index and radiosensitivity . Further study discovered that after silencing hTERT, telomerase activity in CNE-2R cells was markedly suppressed, along with remarkably down-regulated stem cell-related protein levels both and .

CONCLUSION

Silencing hTERT can suppress the CSC-like characteristics of CNE-2R cells to enhance their radiosensitivity, revealing that hTERT may become a potential target for treating radioresistant NPC.

METHODS

An RNAi lentiviral vector specific to the hTERT gene was constructed to infect CNE-2R cells, the hTERT silencing effect was verified through qPCR and Western blot assays, and telomerase activity was detected by PCR-ELISA. Moreover, radiosensitivity was detected through colony formation assays, CCK-8 assays and flow cytometry. Tumor growth and radioresistance were also evaluated using xenograft models, while the apoptosis index in xenografts was measured through TUNEL assay. Levels of stem cell-related proteins were determined and .