Scutellarin Improves The Radiosensitivity Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells To Iodine-125 Seeds Via Downregulating The Akt/Mtor Pathway

Background In our previous study, we indicated that scutellarin (SCU) induced an anticancer effect in A549 cells. However, whether SCU regulates the radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its related mechanism is still unclear. Methods In this study, we explored the anticancer effect induced by iodine-125 (I-125) and SCU at a sensitizing concentration in A549 and H1975 cells. Cellular apoptosis and proliferation were detected by flow cytometry, Bcl-2/Bax expression level, cell cycle, CCK-8, and EdU staining. A tumor model using nude mice was also carried out to investigate the combined effect of I-125 and SCU in vivo. In addition, the expression level of AKT/mTOR pathway was detected to investigate whether it is linked to the anticancer effect of I-125 and SCU. Results SCU at a sensitizing concentration promoted the I-125-induced apoptosis and antiproliferative effect in A549 and H1975 cells. Moreover, the same results were obtained in vivo. Based on our findings, the AKT/mTOR pathway was significantly downregulated after combined treatment with I-125 and SCU. Conclusions The results of our study suggested that SCU promotes the anticancer effects induced by I-125 in NSCLC cells by downregulating the AKT/mTOR pathway and lays a foundation for future application of this combined treatment.