Epigenetic modifier as a potential radiosensitizer for heavy-ion therapy on malignancy, 2

Saito, Katsuyo*; Funayama, Tomoo; Kobayashi, Yasuhiko; Murakami, Takashi*

Epigenetic modifiers, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, have emerged recently as promising anticancer agents and it has been expected that epigenetic modifiers may enhance the effect of other cancer therapeutics including radiotherapy. Therefore, we investigated whether the use of epigenetic modifiers could sensitize melanoma cells for the heavy-ion therapy. Murine B16F10 melanoma cells were treated with investigational or comparator epigenetic modifier, then exposed to carbon ions of JAEA-Takasaki. After irradiation, the viabilities of cells were evaluated by colony formation assay. Treatment of B16F10 melanoma cells with HDACi trichostatin A (TSA) in combination with heavy-ion radiation provided enhanced inhibition of colony formation. The data suggest that combination of an epigenetic modifier TSA together with heavy-ion therapy may provide improved therapeutic responses in melanoma patients.