Arenobufagin Enhances the Radiosensitivity of Cervical Cancer Cells by Inhibiting the NF-?B Signaling Pathway

Radiotherapy is among the main methods for treating cervical cancer; however, its therapeutic effect is limited by radioresistance. Thus, identifying effective drugs to overcome radioresistance is necessary. Arenobufagin, a bufadienolide com-pound, has been shown to exhibit anticancer effects. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of arenobufagin on the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer and to explore the potential molecular mechanisms. The roles of arenobufagin in the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells were examined using cytotoxicity assays, colony formation assays, scratch tests, apoptosis assays, comet assays, and mouse models. The cervical cancer cells were irradiated after treatment with arenobufagin, and the extracted proteins were concentrated using nanoabsorbent microspheres. Western blotting was IP: 2038 10920 O Thu, 22 Sep 2022 100408 used to detect the expression of NF-kappa B signal-related proteins in he proteins concentrated by nanoabsorbent micro-Copyr ght: American Scentific Publishers spheres. Arenobufagin inhibited cell proliferation, increasecell apoptosis, promoted DNA damage, and inhibited the Delivered by Ingenta growth of transplanted tumors; thus, the radiosensitivity of C33A cells was enhanced. Mechanistically, we found that arenobufagin enhanced radiosensitivity by inhibiting the NF-kappa B signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that arenobufagin enhanced the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanism might involve the inhibition of cell viability, an increase in DNA damage, and the induction of cell apoptosis by inhibiting the NF-kappa B pathway.