Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved, multi-step lysosomal degradation process in which a cell degrades its own long-lived proteins and damaged organelles. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) has recently been shown to upregulate the process of autophagy. Previous studies showed that certain microRNAs, including miR-18a, potentially regulate ATM in cancer cells. However, the mechanisms behind the modulation of ATM by miR-18a remain to be elucidated in colon cancer cells. In the present study, we explored the impact of miR-18a on the autophagy process and ATM expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells. To determine whether a preliminary link exists between autophagy and miR-18a, HCT116 cells were irradiated and quantitative (q) PCR was performed to measure miR-18a expression. HCT116 cells were transfected with an miR-18a mimic to study its impact on indicators of autophagy. Western blotting and luciferase assays were implemented to explore the impact of miR-18a on ATM gene expression in HCT116 cells. The results showed that miR-18a expression was strongly stimulated by radiation. Ectopic overexpression of miR-18a in HCT116 cell lines potently enhanced autophagy and ionizing radiation-induced autophagy. Moreover, miR-18a overexpression led to the upregulation of ATM expression and suppression of mTORC1 activity. Results of the present study pertaining to the role of miR-18a in regulating autophagy and ATM gene expression in colon cancer cells revealed a novel function for miR-18a in a critical cellular event and on a crucial gene with significant impacts in cancer development, progression, treatment and in other diseases.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been demonstrated to have potent cytotoxic activity against certain malignant tumors. Ionizing radiation (IR) is one of the most effective methods used in the clinical treatment of cancer. The drawback of a single formula is that it limits the treatment efficacy for cancer, while comprehensive strategies require additional theoretical support. However, a combination of different antitumor treatment modalities is advantageous in restricting the non-specific toxicity often observed with an extremely high dose of a single regimen. The induction of apoptotic cell death is a significant process in tumor cells following radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and resistance to these treatments has been linked to a low propensity for apoptosis. Autophagy is a response of cancer cells to IR or chemotherapy, and involves the prominent formation of autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm. In this review, the synergistic effects of TCM and radiotherapy are summarized and the underlying mechanisms are illustrated, providing new therapeutic strategies for cancer.

Homeostasis is maintained by the interplay of multiple factors that directly or indirectly regulate cell proliferation and cell death. Complex multiple interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix occur during acinar morphogenesis and changes in these might indicate carcinogenesis of cells from a normal to a malignant, invasive phenotype. In this study, the human prostatic epithelial cell line RWPE-1 was cultured under three-dimensional (3-D) culture conditions, and the effect of ionizing radiation on acinar morphogenesis and its association with autophagy were discussed. The results illustrated that formation of specific spheroid (acinar) structures was detectable under 3-D culture conditions. Radiation induced the disruption of acini in different cell models using either gene overexpression (Akt) or gene knock-down (Beclin 1 and ATG7). Introduction of Akt not only accelerated the growth of cells (i.e., caused the cells to manifest elongating and microspike-like structures that are obviously different from structures seen in wild-type RWPE-1 cells under two-dimensional conditions), but also changed their morphological characteristics under 3-D culture conditions. Knock-down of autophagy-related genes (Beclin 1 and ATG7) increased the radiosensitivity of cells under 3-D culture conditions, and cells died of non-apoptotic death after radiation. The results suggested that ionizing radiation may change the cell phenotype and the formation of acini. Additionally even the autophagy mechanism may play a role in these processes.