Suppression of autophagy activity enhances the radiosensitivity of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2 cells

Objective: To investigate the effect of autophagy in radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2 cells. Methods: The expression of ATG5 in CNE-2 cells was inhibited by lentiviral mediated RNA interference. The cells were divided into three groups: control group, NC group and ATG5 group. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and radiosensitivity were detected by CCK-8 method, flow cytometry and colony-forming assay, respectively. Results: Compared with the NC group and control group, the survival of ATG5-interfected cells was reduced (F = 3.755, 46.086, 8.609, 44.160, P < 0.05). After 6 Gy X-ray irradiation, the apoptosis index of the ATG5 group significantly higher than that of NC group and control group (F = 394.876, P < 0.05). In addition, the radiosensitivity of ATG5 group was also higher than that of control cells. Conclusions: Suppression of autophagy activity enhances the radiosensitivity of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. (authors)