Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Gene Regulation and Targeted Therapy in Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis: Radiological Findings from Dual Energy CT and PET/CT
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Inhibition of PDK modulates radiotherapy resistance in gastric cancer

Qi Zhang1, Wanjia Qiao2, Xiaoyu Liu2

  • 1Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Xian, 710018, Shanxi, China.

Discover Oncology
|May 23, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Sodium dichloroacetate (DCA), a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) inhibitor, was found to inhibit gastric cancer progression. Targeting PDK also enhanced tumor cell radiosensitivity by promoting apoptosis and DNA damage.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry
  • Radiotherapy Research

Background:

  • Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) is implicated in cancer progression.
  • Gastric cancer exhibits resistance to radiotherapy, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of PDK in gastric cancer progression and radioresistance.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of sodium dichloroacetate (DCA), a PDK inhibitor, in gastric cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of PDK expression in gastric cancer tissues using histopathological microarrays.
  • Assessment of DCA's effects on gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle via EdU incorporation, Transwell assays, and flow cytometry.
  • Evaluation of radiosensitizing effects using colony formation assays, Western blot for γ-H2AX, and ROS generation measurements.

Main Results:

  • PDK was highly expressed in gastric cancer and associated with poor prognosis.
  • PDK inhibition by DCA suppressed cancer cell proliferation and migration.
  • PDK inhibition promoted apoptosis, G1 cell cycle arrest, enhanced DNA damage (γ-H2AX), and increased ROS generation, leading to improved radiosensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • PDK is a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting gastric cancer progression.
  • Targeting PDK with DCA enhances gastric cancer cell radiosensitivity, offering a promising strategy for combined treatment.
Keywords:
DCAGastric cancerGlycolysisPDKRadiotherapy resistance

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