Knockdown of 14-3-3zeta enhances radiosensitivity and radio-induced apoptosis in CD133+ liver cancer stem cells

14-3-3zeta is related to many cancer survival cellular processes. In a previous study, we showed that silencing 14-3-3zeta decreases the resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated whether silencing 14-3-3zeta affects the radioresistance of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) in HCC. Knockdown of 14-3-3zeta decreased cell viability and the number of spheres by reducing radioresistance in CSCs after gamma-irradiation (IR). Furthermore, the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins were upregulated in CSCs via silencing 14-3-3zeta after IR. These results suggest that 14-3-3zeta knockdown enhances radio-induced apoptosis by reducing radioresistance in liver CSCs.