OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in enhancing the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells in vitro.

METHODSA549 cells were exposed to γ-ray with or without TNF-α treatment. MTT assay was used to evaluate the cell viability, and flow cytometry was performed to assess the cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used to observe the expression of caspase-3 protein in the exposed cells.

RESULTSCompared with the exposed cells without TNF-α treatment, the cells treated with TNF-α showed significantly suppressed cell proliferation, increased the cell apoptosis, altered cell cycle, and increased caspase-3 protein expression after γ-ray exposure.

CONCLUSIONTNF-α can enhance the radiosensitivity of A549 cells to increase the efficiency of radiotherapy with γ-ray irradiation.