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Ionizing Radiation Enhances Breast Tumor Cell Migration In Vitro
Ada G H Young1,2, Kevin L Bennewith1,2
1a Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.
Radiation Research
|August 2, 2017
Summary
A 2.3 Gy radiation dose increases breast cancer cell migration, not by inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), but through secreted factors. This suggests new therapeutic targets to prevent tumor cell migration post-irradiation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiation Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Ionizing radiation at high doses (≥10 Gy) can enhance tumor cell migration via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
- The effect of lower radiation doses on breast cancer cell migration and the underlying mechanisms remain less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if a 2.3 Gy radiation dose enhances breast cancer cell migration.
- To determine the role of EMT and secreted factors in radiation-induced cell migration.
Main Methods:
- Real-time imaging of three human breast cancer cell lines over 72 hours post-irradiation (2.3 Gy).
- Quantification of single cell migration, chemotactic migration, and invasion.
- Assessment of EMT markers and analysis of conditioned media for secreted factors.
Main Results:
- A 2.3 Gy dose did not induce EMT in MCF-7 cells or increase migration in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 LM2-4 cells.
- 2.3 Gy significantly increased MDA-MB-231 cell migration but not invasion.
- Irradiated cells released pro-migratory chemokines, enhancing migration of non-irradiated cells.
Conclusions:
- A 2.3 Gy radiation dose is sufficient to increase migration of certain breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231).
- Radiation-induced migration at this dose appears mediated by soluble factors, not EMT.
- Further research is warranted to identify therapeutic targets to inhibit post-irradiation tumor cell migration.
