ABSTRACT
AIM:To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid ( ATRA) on the viability of gastric cancer cell SGC-7901 and the sensitivity to radiotherapy .METHODS:MTT assay was used to examine the cell viability .Radio-sensitivity and cell cycle were determined by colony formation assay and flow cytometry , respectively .The mRNA levels of Bax, Bcl-2, survivin and NF-κB in the cells were measured by RT-qPCR.RESULTS: ATRA inhibited the viability of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration-dependent manner .The maximal inhibition was at concentration of 8 μmol/L.Colony formation assay revealed that the combination of ATRA with X-ray treatment significantly reduced the values of D 0 and Dq, and shifted down the fitting survival curve , as compared with radiotherapy alone .Moreover , ATAR markedly decreased the percentage of G2/M phase in the SGC-7901 cells (P<0.05).In addition, following ATRA treatment, the mRNA levels of Bcl-2 and survivin were decreased (P<0.05), whereas the mRNA levels of Bax and NF-κB were increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:ATRA enhances the sensitivity of SGC-7901 cells to radiotherapy , inhibits G2/M arrest and regulates the mRNA expression of Bax , Bcl-2, survivin and NF-κB.