Urolithins increased anticancer effects of chemical drugs, ionizing radiation and hyperthermia on human esophageal carcinoma cells in vitro

Despite progress in diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer (EC), it is still considered as a serious malignancy with very poor prognosis. Urolithins are colonic microbiota metabolites with a wide range of pharmacological properties including chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. In this study, we hypothesized that urolithins might possess the potential to improve the efficacy of chemical drugs, ionizing radiation (IR) and/or hyperthermia on EC cells. After synthesis of urolithin A (UA), methylurolithin A (mUA) and urolithin B (UB), KYSE30 esophageal cancer cells were treated with urolithins + paclitaxel (PTX), cisplatin (DDP), + different doses of IR or + heat-shock. Viability of cells was then determined by alamarBlue assay. To further elucidate the effects of UA, we used flow cytometry for investigation of induced apoptosis, and qRT-PCR for evaluating changes in the expression of HSP27, CCNDI and BCL2. Assessment of cell viability demonstrated that mUA increased the toxicity of PTX and DDP (up to 22.4 % and 20 %, respectively) and improved the effects of 6 Gy IR (26.5 %). Our main results achieved after UA treatment were improved toxicity of PTX and 6 Gy IR, beside enhanced effects of hyperthermia (37.3 %), which was confirmed by flow cytometry analysis and downregulation of HSP27, CCNDI and BCL2 expression. Taken together, our findings suggest that UA and mUA could be used as promising agents in combination with therapeutic modalities to improve the clinical outcomes of EC treatment.

Automated summary

Urolithins have the potential to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hyperthermia in the treatment of esophageal cancer. They increase the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation, enhance the effects of hyperthermia, and promote apoptosis in cancer cells.